Fox L.A.’s morning show reported in an oh-so-brief clip last week that the pending divorce between Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn is off, as Mr. Penn withdrew the divorce petition he had filed.
I’m glad it got a mention at all!
Too often in our current media culture, celebrity break-ups, possible divorces and possible “other men” or “other women” stories make the headlines and last in the news cycle, whereas a couple really trying to work things out in a hard time gets only a small mention.
“It was an arrogant mistake,” Penn said in the L.A. Daily News. “This doesn’t mean they’re suddenly happy and in love,” said a friend. “It’s anyone’s guess where this is going.”
Here is one case where a Hollywood couple is going through something that many everyday Americans–including those inside and outside of the church–are dealing with. I’ve had five couples (or one member of a couple) in my office over the last two weeks who have no idea how they’re going to make it yet don’t want to get divorced, and that’s actually pretty typical.

I know there are some who will say that the Penn couple are publicity hungry. This isn’t the first time they’ve filed and may not be the last. But wherever they go together in Hollywood, Cannes, or New York, they show courage by being seen and known in public as a couple that doesn’t have it all together, but they’re working at it. And that is inspiring!
Perhaps a future episode of “Larry King Live,” “Oprah,” or one of the other talk shows will someday feature an honest conversation with the Penns about what they’re going through and how they’re hoping to thrive in the future. Perhaps the conversation will even turn spiritual. Either way, it will have value and a large audience will tune in.