Two Movies

I've had something of a busy weekend.  Let me start off by saying last week was incredibly mind-numbing. A jam-packed shmorgishborg of blah-blahs and hoo-ha's... then Pastoral Counseling (9am-12pm, 1-4pm for a week straight).  Then there were the little things, but Monday I set up a local /open meeting for people to check out Not For Sale and our work against human trafficking.  I spent the rest of last week trying to get the minutes for that meeting together to email everyone back, and didn't send that email until this morning.  Goodness!

Anyway, feel free to check us out!  http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/

This week, now that the Bruins have won, and class ended, I'm feeling a little more relaxed.  Monday, that is this morning, has had a lovely start.  But what's most on my mind right now is the fact that I've seen two very well done films this weekend.  The first was "The Green Lantern."  Some of you know I rather enjoy the colour green, but I really didn't know a whole lot about the DC Comics hero.  I think it was really great to see a hero admit that they're afraid.  When questioned about a near fatal jet accident, Hal Jordan responds by tuning people out or walking away.  So his internal struggle is something that he works out throughout the entirety of the film.  This isn't news, but the issue of fear is dealt with differently.  Villains "feeding on" fear and heroes combating fear is done not with simple courage speeches (though yes, there is one) but overall, it's the power of will.  I've heard a pastor once say that the opposite of fear is not courage, but it's love.  Does this mean a boxer has to love his opponent in order to win?  Unlikely.  Rather, it's finding what you love and why you do what you do that helps us to fight our fears.   The challenge to fear in this film was not courage (per se) but it was will.  Go see it and enjoy it.

I suppose this is why my next review is a little more appreciative.  Someone had recently discussed the Graduate with me and me being me, I didn't bother to check in to see it until... well... LAST NIGHT after spending 3 hours failing to make a work-out schedule.  (I love life, I really do!)  What an interesting film.  Now, if anyone hates spoilers, it's me.  I don't even like previews because I like going in to a film with a fresh slate.  I don't recall where I read this, but a recent review I read stated that the film's ending was a demonstration of the hopelessness of our society and the distrust of institutions and authority. (Thereby, my instincts tell me this opinion might have come from a Christian magazine or review).  Since I felt the film had been given away as the review describes Benjamin as carrying his true love off, making a mock of the church, and looking completely clueless as to what the future holds.  

My opinion is quite different.  I don't have to state my views on sex or even adultery, but I will say that Benjamin's character is truly a result of this fallen world.  He's not to blame for his actions, but I almost felt encouraged by his literal 'taking up the cross' for what he believed in.  (Again, to revisit the Green Lantern, will vs. fear).  Benjamin spends the majority of this film dealing with fear.  In the Gospel of Matthew, we have this passage: "Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matt. 16:24, New International Version).  This makes me think that whatever we choose to do in life, we will have battles to face - and if our fears aren't challenged or wrestled with, are we really living?  Are we trying?  Are we giving life our best?  Is Benjamin a fighter?  By the ending, something in him has ticked - and it's really exciting to watch.

Benjamin is no hero for committing adultery, but once he finds out he's in love with Elaine, his character  develops, and everything that would have appeared to be wrong (not only in the sight of Holy Mother Church, but according to the rules of the film itself), is attempted by Benjamin to be made right.  Strangely enough, (and I'm sure there's been a world of film critics to discuss this), the use of the golden cross to bar the doors of the church is not altogether a mockery.  It is not the correct use, for certain, but what would you do if you were being chased by an angry mob in a church?  The film would have had "Godfather"esque sentiments regarding the "bad guys" getting away with murder (literally) and evil reigning at the end if Benjamin and Mrs. Robinson weren't discovered.  I would also add that I don't think Benjamin would have really grown up if he wasn't caught.  

Is our generation hopeless?  Do we not trust authority?  Do we like to break rules?  That would have to depend on the circumstances, now wouldn't it?  I found the movie very compelling and the ending was not as bleak as others may think.  If we don't find transformation and purpose, we allow the world to remain bleak.  Don't do it.  Surround yourself with people who will genuinely encourage you to grow!  Do it, dude.

Do it.

~ And now, for something completely different:

for all you hockey-Boston fans...

BRUIN PRIDE!

Victory!

Image Training

I wanted to write about my recent trip to New York following a very, very stressful year at Seminary.  (I think the NYC write up will just have to wait a day or two).  Instead I'm going to construct a little projection, as was suggested to me by a classmate from Korea (Joseph), while in Pastoral Counseling.  Now I know that Pastoral Counseling seems far from the insanely driven performer who couldn't stop flirting, but this course (a one-week intensive with an instructor from a dear former pastor of mine) has been not only mind opening, but convicting on several levels.

Joseph told me how he's able to project images of himself into the future, and he does this on a regular basis.  To be honest, the terminology threw me off ever so slightly, but I guess the basic idea is to PLAN YOUR FUTURE, and this is something I've always struggled with.  Part of the question has always been "Does God leave me to figure everything out on my own?  Or do I just sit here and pray, and let God do everything else?"  I think the answer is yes and no.

I wasn't planning on answering this question here, I just wanted to get to me... thinking about my life... I suppose "examine thy self" comes in quite appropriately doesn't it?  But before I can even begin to look myself up and down, haven't I got some questions to answer?

• On what basis am I examining myself?     - perhaps a question of values
• Where is my state of mind?                       - a question of emotional state
• Am I portraying myself accurately?          - a question of motivation

I guess that's enough for now.  I might start going in circles.  Still, I feel this is necessary because I feel called to do ministry of some kind in this broken, hurting, and confused world.  In one sense, I would say I'm not even ready to do "ministry" but when a friend calls me up and says they're having a bad day, or someone has a question about who to date, or someone is frustrated with a mutual friend's disrespecting of an individual and want's advice - all of these are areas where ministry has happened for me in the last year.  So there you go!  I'm not perfect, never will be - but I'm striving to correct things in my own life to give other people counsel and advice, or just a listening ear when they need one.

Part of the "image training" then is looking into the future while taking what I've experienced or done in the past and putting the two together, to see myself living, using my gifts and talents, and asking myself "Where can I serve?  How can I be a benefit to someone else?  Who in this world is hurting that I feel called to help?"  

It's funny, (now that I have paused), I feel quite good writing all this out, but in my heart/ head/ mind - I have NOOOOO idea what the answers are.  I'm okay with that.  Maybe it's the ADHD.  I'm okay with not knowing everything.  Writing down those areas which I see myself doing something is important though because it gives me some vision or perspective on who I am and what I want to do before I die.

Let us see where it takes me!

Now that I have one more (just ONE MORE!) day of Pastoral Counseling, I look forward to posting more.  

In the meantime, here are some photos I took after a short ride from my apartment to Jeffrey's Neck in Ipswich (MA).  Enjoy and keep living.  Take one step at a time.  Breathe.  Smile.  Laugh.

I suppose you should imagine this as a tryptic.   

Nobody's perfect.  ^_^

Call it "image training."