Bishop Tobin on on a Lesson from the Grateful Dead

"The song 'Ripple,' by the rock band The Grateful Dead, has been around for a long time, over 50 years, but I became familiar with it just recently. It's one of the iconic songs of the Grateful Dead, a combination of a catchy, earworm-worthy tune, and intriguing, almost inscrutable lyrics. One commentator said, 'Ripple is about making peace with life, and finding a path that suits you by learning from the other lost people around you, and of course embracing the power of joy through music.'

"The words that caught my attention, though, were these: 'Let it be known there is a fountain that was not made by the hands of men.' Although the Grateful Dead doesn't usually deal with religious themes, for a believer, the reference to a fountain 'not made by the hands of men' clearly points to God."

In a recent commentary, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of the Diocese of Providence (RI), reflected on the importance of turning to God, "the fountain that was not made by the hands of men," in our personal and spiritual need.

To access Bishop Tobin's complete essay, please visit: 

The Imitation of Christ: A Lesson From The Grateful Dead (24 MAR 22)