Diane Rehm, 74, is one of National Public Radio’s longest-running and most admired talk show hosts, reaching more than 2 million listeners each week on Washington’s WAMU 88.5, and on affiliate stations throughout the country. The native Washingtonian shared with The Washington Examiner by e-mail thoughts on faith, integrity, and lessons learned from the subject of her most recent book: her beloved dog Maxie.
Do you consider yourself to be of a specific faith?
I was baptized as an infant in the Syrian Orthodox Church. It was a true baptism, being completely immersed by the priest in water. Thankfully, I have no memory of the process. I am a Christian, with a strong faith in God and his creation. I am a practicing Episcopalian. I love the beauty of the ceremony, the Holy Eucharist, and the message of love and forgiveness that the words of Christ teach us. I believe in prayer, particularly prayers of thanksgiving for the beauty of the world we see. I give thanks each and every day for the sight of a flower, or a tree or a cloud. I am filled with sadness at what we as humans are doing to that world.
You’ve been quite open for the past decade about your struggles to find your voice — both literally, as a result of battling spasmodic dysphonia, and psychologically, emerging from a difficult and at times abusive childhood. In the end, do you feel more like you found your voice, or that you created it?
In a sense, I had to lose it to find it, in my own mind. The people around me have been so kind, so generous, in their understanding and support. My husband, John Rehm, refused to allow me to give up when I was truly despairing and ready to throw in the towel. I think I really did not fully understand the healing nature of love until I lost my voice. Perhaps I kept wondering whether I deserved to have “a voice,” considering the silence imposed on me in childhood. When I have to receive injections of Botox every four months or so to retrieve my voice, the doubts return and I struggle every single time to believe that I can “come back.” But somehow, I do, and that gives me the faith that I will continue to do so.
Your new book, “Life With Maxie,” is a sweet story of love for your Chihuahua. Most people know dogs are loyal and lovable, but what life lesson have you learned from your pup that’s perhaps more surprising, or more profound, than those found in the typical dog tales?
I’ve learned that dogs, like people, can change. As Maxie experienced consistent love and reassurance from those in our immediate family, I watched him emerge from his fear of people to eventually become a sweet, affectionate, and playful pup. In his early life, because he is so small, people tried to quickly to reach out and touch him. Perhaps because of some experience very early in his life, he was frightened, and became increasingly so. I’ve had a great deal of personal therapy in my own life, and watching Maxie emerge helped me realize that I too have had difficulty putting faith and trust in those around me. Watching Maxie’s growth, I believe that I, too, have become a more trusting individual.
Looking back on nearly 40 years in radio, what ethic of reporting would you most like to see championed by tomorrow’s journalists?
Make sure you know you are true, not only to yourself, but to those around you. Ask questions because you believe it’s important to know, and keep asking until you get an answer. Be thoughtful in your questioning, and know that someday, the same kinds of questions could be put to you.
At your core, what is one of your defining beliefs?
I believe God has given each human being the potential for creating some goodness in this world.
– Leah Fabel
– Leah Fabel
