Christ and Pop Culture Member Exclusives

The nostalgia, wistfulness, and ache that Death Cab conjures up in the hearts of listeners is like no other.

Unlike the pitcher, the gardener cannot rely on her own strength to get her very far. Can she, after all, cause a seed to sprout?

As a practicing Catholic, I know that confession must occur even in the summertime, when the confessional booth is stuffy and both priest and penitent are itching to be elsewhere.

When people are wary of the church, these places show us what community can be: parties, music, good food, experiencing a good story, and the careful art of negotiating communal relationships.

Stand by Me takes viewers along on a quest that encapsulates coming of age; deep, transforming friendship; and the possibilities of a “summertime kind of life.”