Mister Rogers & Us, Part II

For years, Tim and Amy have been sentinels, slightly-elder spiritual siblings ever-ready to provide me wise council. I have called on them confounded, confused, and crestfallen, exuberant, and downright giddy. They hold space for me to be whoever I need to be: weak or strong, brave or stupid.

Which seems to me to be the best we can be for anyone.

Last week, Amy and Tim shared how they came to write their books, and what they came to understand of Fred Rogers’ legacy.  This week, Amy, The Tims, and I discuss how reflection is critical, hope is participatory and “deep and simple” is an evolving concept.

This week, we continue to celebrate the tenth anniversary of “Mister Rogers & Me” on PBS with the second of our two-part conversation between myself, Neighborhood Archivist, Tim Lybarger, and two key voices in our film and lives, “Simple Faith of Mister Rogers” Author, Amy Hollingsworth, and “I’m Proud of You” Author Tim Madigan.

Now more than ever, with insurgencies and invasion, division and isolation, we all would benefit from holding that space for one another.

“In times of stress,” Fred reminds us, “The best thing we can do for each other is to listen with our ears and our hearts, and to be assured that our questions are just as important as our answers.”