A Christmas Story

[Ralphie, the main character, is at the mall waiting in line to tell Santa what he wants for Christmas.  We has been wanting a Red Ryder B.B. gun ever since he had first seen one.]

I will admit, I myself was surprised that I was able to draw something from this movie.  As I watched this clip I recognized that this could be a very good analogy about how we approach God, especially during this Christmas season.  So often we look up to God as Santa, the giver of good gifts, but only if I have been a good boy/girl.  And if you are not a good person then you don't get what you want.  We have this mentality towards God all the time, we think good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell.  It is not an issue about bad or good, it is about the nature of whether or not we want to be in a relationship with the person who grants us this wonderful gift that began at the Incarnation.  When God told humanity, "I love you so very much, that I will become one of you."  Heaven is not a place, it is a relationship, and hell is the opposite the constant lack of a relationship.

The second part is that we often look up to God and ask him for all sorts of things.  Now I am not saying not to ask for things from God, but have you ever stopped and asked what He wants from you?  Santa is a person too, does he not deserve our love?  Relationships are meant to be two way streets.  If you catch yourself this holiday season asking God for all these things, and then get upset when you don't get them, ask yourself why am I asking for this?  Am I looking at God like so many people do Santa, just somebody to ask things from without being required to give?  

God does not respond as Santa does in this clip, nor the way the elves do.  God is there to love us, and He wants to spend as much time with us as possible.  He has the ability and the time to spend an infinite amount of time and energy focused on you, your desires, gifts, talents, troubles, and everything about you that you can imagine.  He loves you so much he became like you.  So take time this Christmas to say thank you to the God who has given you Himself, but also to listen to what He has to say. 

Love Actually 

[The President of the United States (Billy Bob Thornton) and the Prime Minister of Great Britain (Hugh Grant) had just concluded there private meeting about affairs between the US and England.]

I have mixed reviews about the film in general, but this scene is rather heroic.  It is nice, even in a movie, to see good politics.  It was amazing for the Prime Minister to stand up to the President.  Often times we are viewed in awe and fear since we have been a super power for quite some time.  Without getting into politic discussions though it is true that the only way to stand up to a bully is to show strength.  This clip does indeed show the Prime Minister showing strength by standing up to the President, and doing so with comedy.  

You might ask though, is only to standing up to bullies the point of this clip?  And no, is the obvious answer, but there is a deeper meaning here.  We have just been around our families during this Christmas season, having just celebrated the day Christ was born.  The deeper part of the clip is that the Prime Minister doesn't let bad actions go unnoticed or challenged.  This Christmas season lets take the time to bring the issues that we are facing with our families out into the light, because it is only in the light that anything can be resolved.  When we let things sit in our dark closet, and never deal with them, how are they ever to be resolved?  We need to take this holiday season, this beautiful time of Christmas to actually bring the healing that Christ himself promised in the world.  If there are wounds you have this year take time to address them before the new year.  If you need counseling, go to counseling, if you need to talk to your dad, do it.  Do not wait longer for what you need this day, Christmas has come, the wait is over, God is now here!

A Good Year

[This is the trailer for the movie.]

This movie is all about stopping and smelling the roses, well the vines.  Max (Russel Crowe) is this hotshot business guy, but he is forced to come to where he grew up and spent his summers.  The sad thing is that since he had become this money grubber he had forgotten who he was.  It is the life of the ones that we love, that we give our hearts to that can change us.  Max loved his uncle, and it is his uncle that ultimately moves and makes Max question what he is doing.  

The movie unfolds showing Max, and his growth back to being human, and wanting the true things of the heart, like love, and passion, not money.  So often people desire wealth, or money, but why?  It shall not bring us happiness.  Money is only good because of what you can acquire with it.  Even with all the things you can acquire, does it matter?  If I have the basic necessities of life taken care, then what more does man need.  He needs passion, friendship, family, and ultimately he needs love.  Without love what is the point of life?

Captain America: Winter Solider

[Captain America (Chris Evans) has been working for a CIA-like program called Shield, that is run by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson).  He is upset with how things are going with it.]

What is the point of government?  Well our Declaration of Independence states "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." It comes from the governed excepting the role of those over them.  Captain America is correct in his statement that this isn't freedom this is fear.  We could understand that in order for us not to be hurt, to be wounded is to be ahead of the curve.  The only problem is escalation is never an appropriate response to violence.  If you hurt me with a knife, well next time I will bring a gun, and then you will bring a bigger gun.  The question with that becomes when does it end.  If we are to change the world we must be different from the world.  "To love at all is to be vulnerable." - C.S.  Lewis

There is a man who actually came to respond to that very issue.  The need in us to constantly protect that which we have, freedom.  Christ came so that we might be truly free.  Cap and Fury are arguing over the state of the world, but the best we can do is fight for a good cause.  If it wins it wins, if it doesn't it doesn't.  We are too attached to certain things, but they cannot provide ultimately safety.  We attempt to make sure that everything is under our control, but the thing is it cannot be.  There are very few things if any that we can control in this life.  The only thing I have control over is myself.  I can choose to live in fear, or in hope, but they cannot both exist at the same time.  So choose hope this day.  

Goal! The Dream Begins

[Santiago Munez (Kuno Becker) is an up-in-coming player for Newcastle United footballer.  The head coach has a word with him after seeing a play.]

Isn't this the story that all pro teams need to be taught?  The ball/puck can travel faster than you.  It points out though one of the oldest lessons that is so important for us to learn in the western world, that the team is more important than the individual.  Now I am not saying that a single person does not matter, but if the person is not looking out for others then there will be no team.  It takes people out on the pitch working together to be able to accomplish the goal (pun intended!).

In our culture in the west we have a great emphasis on the self, and that is good, but it tends to create a neurosis.  We tend to think that the world is about me, and it ain't. I have to come to recognize that their our people on this planet, and that at times they need my help.  I need to look at the human race at my team mates, the people who help me accomplish winning the best and greatest game there is, life. Without them I will not succeed in my endeavors.  As much as people love to think that there are solitary and need nobody or nothing, they only need start thinking about all the things that allow them to be in their nice comfortable world.  May you be challenged today to act on behalf of somebody on your team, pass the ball. 

Xmen

[Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) has prevented his friend Erik Lensherr (Ian McKellan) from murdering people different than himself, non mutants.]

Now this is not the best clip from this series of movies to describe their relationship, but it does show something beautiful, friendship.  Erik is known as Magneto, and Charles as Professor X.  They became friends early on for different reasons depending on whether you follow the comics or the movies, but none the less they are friends.  Most people today would think how could you be friends with somebody and yet have them thrown in prison?  The answer can be found in a quote from Thomas Jefferson, "I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as a cause for withdrawing from a friend."

In our modern day and age we think that we cannot be friends with someone because they do not believe the same things as us.  There is great danger though in surrounding yourself only with like minded people.  It creates a bubble, and isolates us from the world, not to mention the muscle of our mind becomes atrophied.  Our mind is meant to be challenged, and stretched.  We can never gain that if we do not seek out opinions that are different from ours on a wide variety of views.  I will admit I have trouble doing this at times, but thankfully God always has a way of making sure that my ideas are challenged by the people I meet or the shows I watch, or videos I see.

Another connection with the last point is that it is good to be challenged by a friend, somebody you trust.  If you are pursuing truth, and I myself am pursuing truth, why does it matter if we are not in the same place yet?  You provide me with a sounding board, a way to check whether what I have discovered, figured out is truth or not.  This has to be the case if truth is outside myself, not bound to my decisions.  This is why Professor X could have Magneto thrown in jail and yet still be his friend.  Friendship is borne from a love for the other, to will the good of the other.  Magneto had done something wrong, and he needed to face the consequences of his actions. 

Evan Almighty

[Evan Baxter (Steve Carell), a new politician,  has just come to the realization that God (Morgan Freeman) has in fact asked him to build an ark.]

Has this ever happened to you?  Has God appeared to you and asked you to build an ark, or maybe something of a Divine Task?  Well He has never done this for me the way that He has done it for Evan in this clip, but He does speak and ask things of us.  How often are we like Evan and asking why me?  You are a unique combination of talents, desires, and faults.  But the beautiful combination of who you are is what makes you exactly the kind of person that God could use for a particular task.  He chose Evan, who made his campaign slogan "we can change the world," because God likes that campaign.  He has an idea or two for the world.  

Do you ever look at your circumstances and think I hate this, and God must hate me because He put me in this situation?  I know I do plenty of times.  God in the clip responds wonderfully though to why He does what He does "because I love you."  We are not made to be content, and happy all the time, their will be times of pain and sorrow (especially given the call of what it is to be a Christian "pick up your cross...").  All these experiences, moments, are given to us for our good and maturation as human beings.  We are meant to grow closer to Him through every circumstance. 

Kung Fu Panda 2

[Po, the panda, (Jack Black) has just suffered a defeat, but in his defeat he has learned something.]

Kids movies can teach us things too!  Why is it that Po is able to throw the cannonballs back at the ship that is firing at him?  It is not some fancy Kung Fu trick, but rather that he is at peace with who he is.  Po took the entire film to be able to come to this realization.  It is not something that is easily done, yet it is important to reach.  We are called to be at peace with who we are.  It is not to mean that we ignore our faults, nor are we to dwell on them over much.  It is this happy balance.  Only through this balance are you able to do miraculous things like Po did by catch and redirecting the cannonballs sent his way.  

Many people I might say it is so hard to stay focused on it though, and right they are.  This is why when Po first does this his hand catches on fire and he scrambles around to put it out.  And then as he learns how to do it at first it is bobbling, and then he can soon direct where it goes more than just away from him.  We learn things in a process.  You are not going to do it amazing the first time you do something.  Give yourself time to learn, and be ok with when you fail a little or a lot.  Get back up and try it again.  Po had his hand catch fire the first time he did this task, but did that prevent him from continuing?  No, Po realized that even when you don't get it perfect the first time, you keep doing it, and eventually it will get where you want it to be. 

Man in the Iron Mask 

[This is the culmination of the film.  King Louie XVI (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a terrible king, and the 3 musketeers have tried to replace the king with this twin brother Philippe (Leonardo DiCaprio), the man in the iron mask.  D'Artagnan, the man who saves Philippe, is their father.]

This scene is so moving for me.  D'Artagnan is this man who seems always to be caught in the middle of warring parties even though he is trying to do the right thing.  D'Artagnan is the father of both Philippe, and Louis.  He wants to have the brothers not fight, and not harm one of another.  He views reconciliation, and the nobility of character far above revenge or hate.  D'Artagnan did what all father's should do lay down their life for the sake of their children.  

The love that D'Artagnan has is shown again by the fact that he is laying their dying he takes the time to instruct his son, Philippe about what is the right thing to do.  You should not raise your hand against your brother to kill him even if your brother would do the same.  He wants his son to be a good man, both of them.  

We have problems in our society today because people do not take the time to be good fathers as D'Artagnan was to his sons.  He we need men to step and be the father that they are called by God to be.  

New in Town

[Lucy (Renee Zellweger) is a big shot executive from Miami visiting a small Minnesota town to try and shut down a factory.  She is having dinner at one of the local workers houses.  Ted (Harry Connick Jr.) is one of her main antagonists during the process.]

Don't you just love those tense dinners?  Hopefully your thanksgiving is not like this.  None the less though this brings up an interesting perspective.  Is Ted right, or is Lucy right in this conversation?  Are there good things about living in the city?  Are there good things about strong successful women? Or is it Ted's argument, do women sell their body as sex objects?  Or is Miami (big town) filled with drug lords? 

I would like to propose that both have something to learn.  It is good that we support living in the city, and successful women.  The question is what is the end goal of that success.  What is the measure for success?  Is it money? fame?  Or is it something that is when we are away from the crowds, away from the business?  Can we look at ourselves in the mirror and be happy with who is looking back at us?  Lucy needs to understand that it is not good for a woman to be successful at the expense of her dignity. 

Ted needs to learn that just as much as he feels that he is being prejudged, he is doing the same thing to where Lucy comes from.  So the take always from this clip is that we have to remind ourselves what success is, but more importantly that we need to be open to new worlds, and perspectives.  We need to be careful not to be hypocrites, and cast ourselves with the same measuring stick.  

Black Hawk Down

[Eversmann (Josh Hartnett) and Hoot (Eric Bana) have just come back from Mogadishu, Somali to base having been pinned down in the field for over a day.]

First thank you for all those who have served in our military.  Thank you for the sacrifice, and those that are made by your family. 

After having experienced real horrible things out there Hoot decides to go back out.  Why?  The simple answer that he gives is the men beside you.  This is the point of our faith, this is why we do what we do, because of a Presence.  It is because when we look at the person in the gutter, or sitting on the side of building, or somebody suffering from depression, or loneliness we seem somebody like us.  We notice that person needs saving, and if we are in the position to offer something it is our obligation to do something.  Life is about looking at our fellow man and being moved with compassion for him, since we have been cared for by Him. 

It is the fact that we are loved first that motivates us to follow Him.  The amazing thing that a lot of people forget is that the times that we are most moved in our faith it is usually at the hands of a person, or somebody being the instrument through which God reaches down and plays this beautiful music to us reminding us that their is hope, and that life has meaning.  That is why I love that this clip ends with hope: Hoot reminds Eversmann that it is a new week.  Hoot is alive and ready to embrace that life that is new everyday and that we are given this day for a purpose.  

D2: The Mighty Ducks

[This is team usa (comprised mainly of the mighty ducks) of the junior good will games in between the 2nd and 3rd period.]

This is the Church.  Imagine and think of the Church as a team, and in this example as a hockey team.  They are gathered from all different parts of the US.  Notice how each individual person's origin does not detract from the whole.  We are Catholic, we are an overarching family, but we have different origins and gifts to offer.  Not everyone on the team can be a goalie, or a winger.  

The coach, Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez), tells them to be who they are.  Bombay reminds them that we are unique and who we are is good.  "We're not bullies, not goons..."  and that we are not.  We are not to spread the Gospel by bullying people, or bashing them over the head with the truth.  We convert people by how we love them.  It is how we play the game, and how we treat the others on our team that attracts people to the faith.  

And lastly it shows the best thing about the Church, the Church succeeds most when she is under persecution.  People might be claiming to discount us, or the sky may be dark ahead, but "ducks fly together."  We shall never fail, it was a promise made to Peter from the Lord Himself that the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.  

Law Abiding Citizen

[Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler) is on trial for killing two men.  Nick Cannon (Jamie Foxx) had represented Clyde in a case about 10 years ago. It is a very connected plot, but that should suffice.]

This is an interesting movie to say the least. It really does talk about justice, and personal responsibility for the choices we make (it is violent and has language issues).  The reason I posted this clip is about how the argument goes in this court of law.  I find it very interesting that citing one case, and using a little bit of logic Clyde was about to be let go.  The judge changes her opinion at the faulty logic that Clyde gives.  

How often do we listen to an argument made by people arguing against the Truth, and we go along with it?  Clyde brings up the point, that apparently he just killed two men, and the judge would be willing to let him go?  That is bizarre.  Think about justice in sense of providing for the common good, and defending what we know to be right.  So often I have heard, whether in debates on TV or YouTube, or high school classrooms, or even parishes that just because somebody gives a seemingly logical argument for something contrary to the truth, we fall back to you have to go on faith.  

Our faith is logical.  It is not something that we take on blind obedience.  We are asked to take faith on evidence.  The beginning of an disagreement needs to make sure that you are on the same footing.  Are you arguing from the same assumptions?  In this case that a murderer is a potential threat to the good of society, and that for safety precautions should be detained until the case could be decided one way or another.  Does your logic come from the reasons and evidences presented in reality or are your own skewed perspective?  We have to be ready to except reality for what it is rather than us forcing our views upon it.  

The Family Man

[Jack (Nick Cage) has suggested moving into the City and having all the rich things that he had in his old life.  Jack is married to Kate (Tia Leoni).]

Is it naive of Kate to want that?  I don't think it was too much to ask for, but the point I want to show in this clip is the power of love, true love.  True love, since our notion of love is so muddled by people's varying definitions.  When I say true love I mean St. Thomas Aquinas definition, "to love is to will the good of another."  Kate wills the good of her husband Jack.  She is willing to sacrifice her joys, her dreams for the sake of her beloved.  

She does not just throw her dreams away though, she holds on to truth.  She asks Jack, "if you really need this..." to see his commitment to the decision at hand.  Kate is not asking Jack to ignore himself, but asking what does he really need.  In essence, is this something that will make you happy?  This is exactly the kind of love that God looks at us with us.  He has this dream for us, this beautiful, full picture.  We so often tell God though that we need something other than this beautiful relationship full of life and happiness.  And just as Kate does in this clip, God says "if you really need this...because I choose us."  God chooses us and will follow us because He loves us.  The direction of this relationship believe it or not is left up to us.  We decide if we follow His dreams, His wants, or if we will pursue our own selfish desires.  

How often do we think God is naive in His wishes?  I ask you today to consider what God is asking of your relationship?  Spend some time mulling it over, think about what He wants out of the relationship?  Dialogue with the person who chooses you so much that He is willing to die on the cross to let you have your way. 

Saved

[Mary a girl at a christian high school has gotten pregnant, and has stopped being as involved as she once was, so her friends try an intervention.]

How often have we been Hilary Faye (Mandy Moore)?  We think we know what is best for our friends.  We think we know love because we can quote Scripture in and out, or that we follow all the rules.  When we become this kind of Christian we are being the older brother in the parable of the Prodigal Son. We think that it is about following rules, or about being in the Father's house and toeing the line.  But we forget that God wants our hearts, not just our rule following.

Now I am not encouraging people to break the rules, but ask yourself why are you following the rules?  Are you following the rules so that you can be better than somebody else?  Do we use the Bible as a weapon to put others down?  "Stop judging, that you may not be judged." Mt. 7:1  Why is is that we judge so often?  We almost think that the people who go to hell are those that I am compared to.  We constantly want to put a sliding scale for Jesus to judge us, "well I'm not as bad as that guy" or "I am just as good as that girl."  God does not judge us according to others, but rather according to what has been allotted to us, and according to His Divine justice.  The beauty though is that we must realize that we all fall short.  We all have sins, and we cannot make it on our own.  This is why Pope Francis stated in an interview "who am I to judge?"  I struggle with sins, and so do you whether you admit it or not.  

There is a reason why Jesus ate with tax collectors and prostitutes, they recognized their sin, their lack, their NEED for a savior.  It is the Pharisees and Sadducees that did not need a savior.  If you don't want help, how can anyone help you?  If you don't think you are ever sick, will you ever go to a doctor?  No.  Hilary Faye doesn't think their is anything wrong in her life, so she seeks to bring her friend Mary back to her perception of good and evil.  Hilary Faye doesn't know love because "If I speak in human and angelic tongues...And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains...If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing." 1 Cor. 13:1-3

Bruce Almighty

[Bruce (Jim Carrey) had had the powers of God (Morgan Freeman), and despite all the power he could not make Grace, the woman he loves, love him. So God after a whole lot of mess is asking him to pray.]

I like showing this clip for two reasons.  First being Bruce shows us what it is to pray.  Prayer is meant to be about what moves us.  As God asks Bruce, what do you really care about?  God wants us to be happy, and he wants us to share with him what is on our heart.  He wants to here all of what it is...even if it ain't that pretty.  He can take it.

And second is Bruce shows what love is.  Love is willing the good of another.  Love requires sacrifice.   How can you claim you love something if when the rubber hits the road you put yourself in front of the beloved.  The whole point of falling in love, and loving another is that you will their good above your own.  This takes all sorts of different twists and turns in our life.  Sometimes the best, and loving thing that we can do for someone is to take ourselves out of the picture.  And even though often it is painful, love puts you at peace because you know it is the right thing to do.  

Away We Go 

[Burt (John Krasinski) & Verona (Maya Rudolph) got a stroller for some friends of theirs]

So the comment by the actress Maggie Gyllenhaal is pretty telling.  What is wrong with a stroller?  The thing that these particular people in this movie bring up is our culture that is in love with our children.  In this country we have such a weird understanding of what is good for our children.  Strollers aren't bad things.  Just as much as getting into a little bit of trouble, and get dirty isn't bad. 

There is a culture in our society that says we should always put our children first, and I disagree.  I think that children are important and that we should love and care for them.  Mom and Dad come first.  The best way to love your kids is to love your spouse.  Children need to remember that Mom and Dad love each other.  That is how the children will learn how to love, is by seeing mom and dad love.  I will love my wife always before my kids, but you sure can bet that the next person I will kiss and be glad to see is our kids.  If you put the child first it begins to teach them a sense of entitlement. 

So if you are a parent stop and ask yourself do I love my spouse enough?  Or do I put my children first?  If you do, take some time today to tell them you love them, and that you are happy to be with them.  

Chronicles of Narnia:  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

[Lucy had just disturbed the peace in the house at night.  And now Peter and Susan her older brother and sister are having a conversation with the Professor, the owner of the house and their uncle.]

"Hence the weeping."  He begins using his powers of deduction strait away.  He from this point of the clip stands to be the voice of reason.  Then Peter and Susan share about the magical land that Lucy believes she has found in the upstairs wardrobe.  And he then he starts believing this story.  Why is a deeper story...but safe to say he is willing to go along with it.  He stats "what do they teach in schools these days?"  Then they bring up the idea that Edmund said they were only pretending.  He states if she is not mad, and not lying, she must be telling the truth.

This is the point of the clip, how often do we assume that we know the logic of how the world works and if you do something that is outside our imagination of what could happen than I label you a lunatic.  Granted it does seem highly unlikely that Lucy has found a magical land, but as he says logically it makes sense that she has.  How often in our world do we dismiss something that somebody says because it doesn't make sense in our head?  We are slowly, but surely moving to a society that looks at somebody who does not think like us and we think him mad.  But the question is have we thought about things logically?  People often think that Faith and Reason are opposed to each other, they are not.  It is terrible that the majority of people believe that the word faith means that you take something on no evidence.  That would be lunacy.  To believe I am a poached egg makes no sense, and there is no evidence to suggest I am one.  However to believe that I am a Christian, that Christ was real, and died on the cross and was God, are not without evidences.  

Faith is not opposed to reason, it begins on the point of this clip which is trust, and then logic.  Do you usually trust Edmund or Lucy?  Even if what Lucy is saying is fanciful, and sounds impossible you trust her.  Do you have any reason to not believe her?  Does she still have her wits about her?  It is one thing if we know that the person is "off their rocker," but if they are collected in their thoughts, then why should we disbelief their experience.  

Cool Runnings

[The Jamaican bobsled team had a bad run, and now they are trying to figure out how to do better.  The Swiss have been dominating the sport.]

"If we walk Jamaican, talk Jamaican..."  Sanka has the right idea here.  What does this scene though have to teach me, since I am not Jamaican?  It is to be proud of who you are, and where you come from.  It is to not forget who you are.  I see this so often especially in the world of academia.  We try so hard to be the best that we think we can be, but we do it by trying to mimic those that already do it well.  I am not encouraging you to stop looking to the examples of those who do it well.  With out training you will not be a great, so looking at those who are better is good.  When he look at the greats like the Swiss here we cannot forget though that we are not Swiss.  We may not be made to do bobsledding the same way.  

"The right foot is not the Swiss foot."  What is right for you in regards to training and development may not be what is right for me.  This is not to suggest moral relativity.  We have to think about what is best for me.  Some people respond well to be yelled at in training, others to more gentle prodding.  We have to remember that when we work for anything we want to be the best that we can be, and that is not what others are.  I know I have worked at a place before that was so concerned with what others were doing, and it became exhausting.  If I have to keep racing to catch up with the Jones, I forget that I am a Kovatch.  Remember that God made you perfectly who you are, and wants you to flourish as you are, not as somebody else.

Think for a minute about St. Andrew, the brother of St. Peter.  God loved Andrew the best He could, because God could loved everybody exactly how they needed to be loved.  The way that Andrew was an Apostle, and a saint looked different than Peter.  The inner circle of Jesus was always Peter, James, and John.  That must have annoyed Andrew to no end, since it was Andrew who introduced Peter to Jesus.  Andrew though came to realize that God still loved him as fully as He could.  He gave Andrew exactly what he needed, which was not the same as his brother, or James or John. 

Braveheart

[the young boy, William Wallace, has recently had his father die.  His uncle, Argyle, came to adopt him, and finish raising him.]

"Playing outlawed tunes on outlawed pipes." His uncle tells him that the way that people pay respect to his father is a little unorthodox than the law of the day.  This reminds us that man made law is not always the highest authority.  We must take the time to discern what is right and good on our own, and then act on that good.  

At the end of the clip Argyle tells Wallace that first he will teach him to use his brain, and then the sword.  How often today do we see people who know how to use the sword before using the brain?  We know how to attack, but do we know if we should.  Wisdom should always come before action.  We need to train ourselves how to think, and to use reason.  Think about how moral arguments are made today, most often I hear shouting matches, and who ever is louder is the winner.  Let us take time to actually listen to the other side before we use the weapons of our words.  If we start shouting down the other side before they even speak we may lose out on something really important; a new world view, or even a friend.  Later in the movie by using his brains, rather than acting to quickly with a sword Wallace gains a great friend, and a wise adviser.  

We must think before we act.  Wisdom before violence.  Once you swing the sword the choice has been made, and the consequences must be accepted. 

Timeline

[Andre Marek (Gerard Butler) is a archaeologist who is talking with the boss's son Chris (Paul Walker) about the past v. the future.]

We are intrigued by the past.  Why do we think so often that the past doesn't matter?  Or that we are bored by history.  I think this is because history is done wrong.  Most of our history teacher had us memorize dates and battles.  What do these matter if not in the context of a story? So then we will dwell on the future, but to what avail?  Does worrying change anything about the future?  "The past is where it is at..."  It is from the past that we gain an understanding of who we are.  This is the reason that people who are adopted often struggle with issues of identity. 

The people who have a lack of curiosity about the reality in front of them are the people who are half dead in my opinion.  How can we stand next to something amazing like a 600 year old sarcophagus and not be moved?  What is their story, Chris admits at the end of the clip.  He is intrigued because how can we listen to the passions of our friends and not care?  We ask all the time about things around us without knowing about.  How often when we explain things that are new we use old things to help us describe it.  We are familiar with the past, but lots of times we missed something that was and is important.    

I understand where Marek gets frustrated with the future (technology) it is a blessing and a curse.  And I do miss that honor has become something regulated to the past.  "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" (Edmund Burke).  How many good men have done nothing?  It seems that evil has gotten the upper hand, and we have let the idea of honor slip from our hands.  It is time, to reclaim it.  Go out today and do something honorable, uphold the virtue of Chivalry.  

Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows

[Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) through the help of his friend Watson (Jude Law), just averted war on an industrial scale.  Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris) is the man playing Chess with Holmes, his arch enemy.]

What can we learn from the discussions of Holmes and Moriarty?  They are talking about something that is rather interesting when we think about it.  Moriarty states that somewhere buried in the subconscious is an insatiable desire for conflict.  Is he correct?  I believe he is, but the question then is is it able to be held in check or not?  I believe it is.  As much as we can look around and get a sense that humanity doesn't give a hoot what happens to it, that it is spiraling out of control down the toilet you can also find its opposite.  

Anytime somebody talks about humanity being screwed up we can look to the beautiful examples of the saints (both those recognized like St. John Paul II, and those not so public).  They remind us that humanity is not a crapshoot.  We cannot forget though that evil is real, and that it is out there, and we voluntarily choose it.  It is interesting to note that we cannot say that man is without hope, yet we can say he is utterly miserable.  So is Holmes fighting in vain for the prevention of war?  No, is the simple answer.  

We are called as Holmes is doing in this clip to prevent bloodshed.  To seek the good of man, and not to be selfish and profit from the death of hundreds, thousands of lives as Moriarty wishes to do.  I am thankful for the world that Holmes lives in because when ever a great evil arises in our midst God always provides somebody to combat that evil.  When Hitler came, we have the beauty of St. Maximilian Kolbe, and St. (Edith Stein).  May we have the courage to fight against the evil that besets our world as Holmes did, as Kolbe did, and as Edith did.  

Field of Dreams

[At the end of the movie Ray (Kevin Costner) recognizes the meaning behind all the messages he received through the film.]

This is such a beautiful movie, but I always find it touching that the whole point of the movie is about reconciliation.  The first words Ray hears in the movie "If you build it, he will come"  motivate Ray to start this journey.  His journey of following signs from above about something good for his life.  He decides to ultimately do although it seems to make no sense in opposition to his father, telling his wife that his dad never did anything worry of note.  A lot of people think Ray is crazy since he is losing a lot of his crop by building a baseball field.  So all the while while Ray is building the field he is sharing with his wife and daughter about his father's hero, Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta).  

At the culmination of the film we recognize what "if you build he will come" means.  It was his father.  Ray in this epiphany is wrong though because as Ray is realizing it was about his father.  It is not about his father, but rather his relationship with his father.  If you notice the father is already experiencing "heaven."  The reason that his father came was so that Ray could be reconciled with his father.  It is Ray that these phrases was about.  

Now that we have the synopsis this is how God treats us.  If we build a place for Him to dwell He will come.  If we go the distance, we will ease our pain.  It is about God constantly calling us back to Himself.  He loves us and wants to be reconciled with humanity, with you.  God is already experiencing the joy of heaven, but He wants you to be at peace. He loves you and desires your heart to take away the pain over how we have rejected Him.  Ray thought it was too late to be reconciled with his father, but it wasn't because the father loved him so much he went to extraordinary means to love him.  This is the same as us, it is not too late, God is waiting to embrace us once again as a son. 

Finding Forrester

[William Forrester (Sean Connery), a renowned author, has just read something that his friend Jamal Wallace (Rob Brown) wrote for the sake of Jamal.  Professor Crawford (F. Murray Abraham), had it out for Jamal from the very beginning.]

In this clip, William shows that Jamal Wallace is an exceptional young man, a man with integrity.  Jamal Wallace was accused of plagiarizing, since he had written an paper where he used some of William's own writing.  William had been working with Jamal to help him become a better writer.  

When Jamal had come to the school, Professor Crawford had made an prejudice against Jamal.  He had assumed that Jamal was coming to the school on the merits of his ability to play basketball.  Over the course of the movie Crawford becomes more entrenched to his belief that Jamal cannot be this good of a writer.  How often are we like this?  We meet somebody and we think we have it all figured out.  

Notice in scene how Crawford changes color when William tells everybody that those words that he spoke are not his, but Jamal's.  Then Crawford still wants to assert control and say well Jamal Wallace still deserves a "just" decision.  It is amazing how when we get comfortable in our seats of power that we will allow no one to challenge that power.  What is it in the human condition that makes us think of ourselves as better than others, or the decider of men's fate?  Is there anything this day that God is asking you to let go of?  Is there anything that you are too comfortable with?

Les Miserables

[Valjean (Hugh Jackman) was caught stealing, which if it the law finds out he will be sent back to prison for good, possibly even executed. Valjean was sheltered by the Monsignor the night before.]

This is a very moving scene, and is to have repercussions for the entire film.  Why is that this scene is so important?  This is the scene where the Monsignor "has bought his soul for God."  It is this act of saying that he was not a thief, and going so far as to give him even more silver.  It is this complete act of surrender that unnerves Valjean.  This man has only to say one word and then it was the end for Valjean.  

It is a true act of charity on behalf of the Monsignor.  What value is a gift if it costs us nothing?  Pope Francis has told us as much that true charity, true love costs something.  We must die to ourselves for the sake of the other.   It is in caring for those placed in our path that we love the Lord.  Often times people wonder how they are to serve God, here is your answer.  Love those who come to your path.  Show them love, mercy, compassion.  

I assure you this is no easy task.  Just watch the faces of the women when the Monsignor goes to give him the candlesticks too.  They are horrified, that the Monsignor is going to give Valjean more silver after he had already made the choice and robbed them the night before.  People are scandalized by this complete and utter abandon for the Lord.  It is the Monsignor's job to shepherd souls and try to bring them to the Lord, as is all our jobs as Christians, and this man does it heroically.  May we find the courage to have this type of love for those that God places in our path this day, and tomorrow. 

Jurassic Park

[John Hammond (man in white) has created dinosaurs and is trying to get the dinosaur experts to sign-off on it, and he is in for a rude awakening.]

Even though we are talking about a hypothetical situation, it brings up a very good point that our society often forgets.  There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom.  Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) talks about how John did not take the time to think about whether or not he should do an action.  Often in our world we think about one aspect of a choice, the pleasure of the experience, and disregard the other factors surrounding the choice.  When we look at making choices like this we end up with consequences we are not prepared to face, as in the case of this movie with all the loss of life that happens later.  

We can have the knowledge of how to kill somebody, but should we?  The question about knowledge should not really be the point.  It is true humanity that shows forth when wisdom is chosen.  Wisdom to decide what should be done, and what should not.  John Hammond re-created a new species (dinosaurs) who have been extinct for a long time.  The other "dino-experts" are hesitant to say this is a good thing, because they talk about the fact that  there really is no way to foresee the outcome of this new technology.  I think they would be ok with checking this out on a much smaller scale.  It seems that before they even knew what they had they starting creating and moving.  

This is also how some students respond to stress, and homework as well.  Before then even knew what they had accomplished they are on to the next thing, forgetting what they had just learned/done.  I imagine that the scientist behind the scenes helping creating Jurassic Park were doing exactly what Malcolm said. 

Children of Men

[In a world were there have been no children for 18 years, some infertility defect, Theo (Clive Owens) protects a woman who has just given birth.  In this dystopian future there seems almost always battles going on.]

In a world where there have been no babies crying for 18 years this woman miraclously gives birth, and the child survives.  It is horrifying to stop and ponder what if there was no more new life in this world.  We could literally say that the moment that happens is the moment humanity starts dying.  

Now here in the midst of this battle Theo protects Kee(the mother) who is walking out to try and find safety for her and her child.  You can see the transformation in the people as they witness that there is a child.  Some people reach out and try to touch the baby, the new life.  They are so in awe of life.  Where has that gone in our society?  Even the people with guns stop and give pause to recognize the sanctity of new life.  The one military man ordered a cease fire, and everything pauses in their world to give thanks and praise for the new life.  

As often the case, we go from experiencing this euphoric moment and pause in wonder of the world we live in to the daily grind.  At the end of the clip the battle rages on again.  What is it in us that we so quickly forget the joy that we experience that one crystal clear moment.  Here this woman was walking through war, and the baby reminds people that life is sacred, it is precious, and yet the end goes right back to killing, the exact opposite of the sanctity of life. May we pause this day, if only for a moment even as these people did, and give God thanks for the sanctity of life, and that we get to participate in the continuation of life.   

Hitch

[Hitch (Will Smith) had his heart broken earlier in the film by Sara (Eva Mendes), yet until then the were having the best relationship either had ever had. This is Hitch's attempt to get her back.]

Awww, so romantic.  Can you guess why I placed this clip on the blog?  Am I encouraging you to jump onto cars?  Well not necessarily, but it does illustrate a point.  Love is messy, it can be painful, and wonderful.  Through various circumstances earlier in the film Sara and Hitch had broken up.  They both had things that they had done wrong, but in the end it was Hitch who said no, you are worth to much, I'm not going to let you leave.  To love at all is to risk.  This is what Hitch was doing when he jumped on the car, when he went to see Sara.  His analogy at the end about the rock is so adequate to what it feels like when the love is not returned.  It is risky to love, but it is completely worth it.  If we just accept fine as the best we can do then we will never experience the fullness ready for us.  It is this fullness that we are made for.

Now I am not encouraging you to jump on cars, but I am encouraging you to risk something in your love.  If it requires nothing out of you then what you had is not really love.  Love is sacrificial by its very nature.  Christ taught us this on the cross.  This is the pursuit to which God loves us.  He loves us fully, and completely.  He will run after you, jump on cars, anything to hold you in His arms.  Our God is a God of action, romance.  He does not sit idly on the sidelines waiting for your affections, He is seeking after your heart.  The question remains are you open like Sara to being the beloved of your Seeker?  Allow God to love you this day, and shower His kindness and love on you this day. 

The Amazing Spider-man 2

[Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan) is dying, and has thought that maybe the blood from Spider-man, a superhero might save him.  So he asked his friend Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) to ask Spider-man for him. Peter Parker, who is Spider-man, is really good friends with Harry.] 

The hero is supposed to save people, right? But at what cost?  Spider-man tells Harry that he cannot give him his blood because it could be dangerous.  Peter earlier in the film learned that his blood is special, and that it was this special blood that allowed him to be Spider-man actually.  He knows that if he adds his blood to Harry's with no tests, no background work done that Harry could turn into a monster.   This is a testament to the motto that is popular from the Spider-man comics and the guiding principle of Spider-man, "with great power, comes great responsibility."  Peter has to not only think about his friends interests, but the world at large.  Imagine what would happen if Spider-man was responsible for creating a monster.  He needs time to think about the full implications of what might happen if he gives Harry his blood. 

The second thing we can learn from this clip is the point of being in a wiser seat.  We might look at some issues that are hot button topics, but people cannot see from a clear perspective.  Spider-man is trying to actually care for Harry in this scene.  He loves his friend and wants to help him, but what his friend wants at this time is not what is best for him, or for others possibly.  "To love is to will the good of another." (St. Thomas Aquinas)  It is this fact that Spider-man in good conscience cannot fulfill the desires of Harry.  Sometimes to love somebody means to not given into their wants.  This understanding though is a fine line.   We can become dangerous tyrants if this quality of knowing what is right for others is left unchecked.  This is what any totalitarian regimes do, implementing their world view.  The question though that has to be asked often is what is the world view, is it a good one, and is it actually for the good of mankind. I believe that Peter makes the right decision here, it is sad that through trying to love Harry, he creates an enemy.  You can almost see the pain in Spider-man's mask as he hears the desperation, and hatred he has for Spider-man.  This is a spiritual work of mercy though, "bear wrongs patiently."  

Here is link if you are curious about the rest of the works of mercy. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10198d.htm

Remember the Titans

[Coach Yoast (Will Patton) has been promised that he will be in the football hall of fame as long as he goes along with the people who are "throwing" the game.  Coach Boone (Denzel Washington) was placed as head coach over him earlier in the film.]

Courage.  Courage is the quality that is shown here.  Coach Yoast had been put in an awkward place when Coach Boone was placed over him as head coach earlier in the year.  He had been nominated too for the High School Football Hall of Fame.  It seemed that everything was going fine until the issue of race was brought in.  So the powers that be, white people, stated that if they allow Coach Boone to lose the game that things will go back to the way things were.  

Coach Yoast you can see is debating in his mind what to do, he wants to be in glory, he wants to be in the Hall of Fame.  But he knows that will come with a cost.  Yoast is not happy with the cost, because he knows that a victory won through ill-goten means nothing.  

It takes tremendous courage to go out to the ref during the game and tell him to call the game fair, even if it requires that he goes to jail too.  Yoast is willing to put his name, and his future on the line for the sake of doing the right thing before God, and man.  It takes courage to go against the grain.  This is a great film to show forth that example.  How often do we accept the status quo of society?  They say that greed is good, that there is nothing wrong with gay marriage, or even that conception is perfectly normal and good?  It takes courage to stand up and say that they are wrong.  It is hard to stand up to the bullies in our schools, since that is an issue as well.  Lets take a cue from Coach Yoast, who is teaching us more than football, but teaching us about how to be fully human. 

A Beautiful Mind

[John Nash (Russell Crowe), a brilliant awkward genius, is meeting his girlfriend, Alicia (Jennifer Connelly), for dinner and he is late because of work.]

How often are we in this situation?  The person we love is angry at us because we screwed up again.  The difference here is that John makes up for it by reminding her that he was listening to her, that she is worth the attention, the "love" he has.  

Now take away the awkwardness of his proposal, he brings up a point that the world seems to emphasize often.  John is looking for proof, empirical data, irrefutable data, that points to that they should get married, a long term commitment. Alicia brings up the counter point of how does John know that the universe is infinite?  He says the data points that way, but it is not absolute in the sense that he can put it under a microscope or write a mathematical proof that it does.  It is what is called a reasonably held position.  He is absolute in certainty of this fact.  

The question becomes how certain are we that God is out there? or amongst us?  Can we prove He exists?  No, but the data is there that it is a reasonably held position.  That is the beauty in how God created the world, there is just enough data that it makes sense that we can believe He is there, but not so overwhelming that you have no alternative.  Which brings us to a very important aspect of our lives, choice.  

Alicia tells John that he does not know if she wants to marry him.  And that is the correct understanding, but he had a reasonable hope that she would say yes.  His question involved risk, which is the nature of all relationship because it involves another autonomous being.  We can choose to make that leap of faith, to make that assertion that God is there, and that He loves us, cares for us, or not.  We can remain in the world of only empiricism, but it becomes a very bland, dull world.  It is the risk that makes life worth living.  John Nash later states in the movie that "it is only in the mysterious equations of love that any logical reasons can be found."

The Brother's Bloom

[Penelope (Rachel Weisz) grew up as a recluse because her mother believed her to be sick, which later found out she wasn't really, but then Penelope stayed to take care of her dying mother.]

Penelope brings out a great point about perspective.  Given her childhood and the way she was treated she could have felt cheated, that she had a wasted life, but she didn't.  Why?  Penelope recognizes that you can actually have a meaningful life that it is all a matter of perspective.  Some people would look at her life and say that is was useless, pointless since she spent all day indoors not doing anything of merit.  People might draw the same conclusion about cloistered religious, as I sometimes do.  But why is it that their life is considered wasted, or cheated?  Just because I cannot see the meaning there, does not mean that there is not meaning.  It is a matter of perspective. 

She also brought up the point of telling her own story, which is important, but we must also remember that there is a grander storyteller than ourselves, namely the Creator, God.  It is God that asks us to participate in our own story.  This is the very premise of C.S. Lewis' conception of Heaven and Hell in his book the Great Divorce.  He describes the difference between the two as perspective.  When we, hopefully, get to heaven it has a retroactive effect that all the things in our life, even the bad stuff, have lead us exactly to here.  Hell is retroactive as well, but in the negative.  Our life will have lead us there, and we will come to realize that even the good stuff were sources of pain, bringing us to the reality of hell.  So you see it is matter of perspective.  

Do you like out on your life and see a victim who has been acted upon?  Or do you see a hero, somebody to act?  God made us to be the hero in our own story, not somebody to be cheated, or wasted.  How much time do we waste blabbering on about what we have lost, or how so so acted? "When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, 'Lord, what about him?' Jesus said to him, 'What if I want him to remain until I come?  What concern is it of yours? You follow me.'" (Jn. 21:22)  The only persons actions, and ultimately salvation, we have control over is our own. 

Last Samurai

[Captain Algren (Tom Cruise) has been taken care of by Katsumoto's sister.  Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe) now regards Captain Algren as his friend, but originally they were enemies.]

This is a fantastic movie from start to finish.  It is violent, but I highly suggest watching the whole movie.  

To the clip at hand, in this we learn that soldiers lead a tough life.  They lead a life that torments their mind because to kill on a regular basis changes the person.  This is true for our warriors, as much as theirs.  Violence is not something inherently good, but is something that exists in our fallen world, and it can be used for good.  This is Katsumoto's comment about only those who are ashamed of what they have done.  

Katsumoto then says though that then he comes to this place, the place of his ancestors, and he remembers that we are all dying.  This is true, the cold hard fact that we are all dying.  It is an inescapable reality that we as humans must face.  Some face death and despair, or meet it with impassivity, but Katsumoto suggests meeting it with peace. There is a great quote from Fr. Dujarie, "While we have yet time, let us do good."

"Life in every breath."  This is the way of Bushido, the code of the Samurai.  This is also what Christians seek as well, to come to meet the face of Christ, life, in every moment.  "I am the way, the truth, and the life." (Jn. 14:6) We seek to find Him in every action that we do, in every thought we have.  We want to be more His, than anything else before.  

The Blindside

[Michael is learning how to play football for his high school.  His new mom Leigh Anne Tuohy(Sandra Bullock) goes out to help him out]

This is another fantastic movie that I highly encourage you to watch the whole story.  

The way Leigh Anne came on the scene and knew exactly what to do is pretty amazing.  Why is that she knew how to handle the situation and yet the coach did not?  Mrs. Tuohy knew something about Michael that the coach didn't, that Michael is somebody who wants to protect people, not hurt people, or be rough like most men are.  The coach thought that Michael was a lost cause, a gentle giant.  The thing that people forget about gentle giants is that they are not always gentle, you just have to find the cause that their heart unlocks for.  

How often do we approach evangelization, or even life this way?  We think we know how the world works, or we write somebody off on a first impression.  People in the Church can think that atheists are cold, or that they don't want anything out of life.  Or how many people have treated people with same-sex attraction terribly because we believe we already know them.  All people can be a great asset to the Church, to God, to society in general if only we can take the time to get know them.  

Leigh Anne knows that you cant begin to coach somebody unless you know what motivates them, why do they come out on to the field to begin with?  The question posed to us then is if we are faced with a reality that we don't like, will  we stand on the sidelines and gossip, or will we actually do something to respond to the person before us?  So I challenge you this day, love somebody by taking the time to get to know who they are before you make an assumption of their abilities.  Love somebody today!

a Knight's Tale

[William Thatcher, Sir Ulric, (Heath Ledger) has returned home to his father.  When he was a small boy his father gave him over to the training of a knight.  Before his father left William was worried he would not know the way home...so his father told him to just follow his feet.]

We see a beautiful reunion of father and son.  This shows the kind of love that ought to exist between our family.  It can be years between seeing each other, but we should be happy to hold and see one another.  I mentioned up above that William's father had put him into the training of a real knight grouping up.  This is what father's ought to be, father's are supposed to want more for their children than themselves.  So often today we have fathers who don't care about their children, or tell them not to reach for the stars.  Some fathers also trying to live through their kids, and not let the kid reach and change his stars, the stars he is looking for, not his father's. 

This is not an easy thing to do, but as we learned from Scripture "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." (Jn. 15:13)  True love is sacrificial.  Which is one of the reason why I think we can pull a parallel to the relationship of God the Father and God the Son.  Father gives His Son over to the world for the good of the world, to change the stars, and the Son is so sent.  The Son goes to accomplish that which He set out to do, and returns victorious to His Father.  William returns to his father having accomplished the goal he set out to do.  

You've Got Mail

[Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) gets stuck in a elevator with his current girlfriend Patricia (Parker Posey) and other passengers.]

This is a simple enough scene that reminds us of those peculiar events where we are asked to pause and reflect.  Almost every stuck elevator scene I have seen is reminding the watcher to sit back and think about what is going on in their life.  It is a retreat, time think about the things that matter in life.  Out of the four characters in the elevator only one fails to do this.

The woman with the dog recognizes that her relationship with her mother is important and that she should spend more time and energy on it.  The bellhop recognizes that he should marry the woman he loves, that procrastination is not a good thing.  Then Patricia thinks about getting her eyes laser-ed, whatever that means, and then freaking out about her tic-tacs. Patricia just like the Pharisees of Jesus' time fail to take the time to really look at their life and take stock of things.  The people who were rich and famous back then would miss out on the things that are really important just like Patricia.  

Joe Fox actually takes the time to think about what he would like to be doing with his life, and who he wants to be with.  The movie is a love story between two very unlikely people, but both go through changes.  Joe Fox is at the final turning point in his change in this scene, he is now clear on what he wants.  Joe wants the good things out of life, things that matter, not fame, or riches.  So the question I leave you with is what are you missing out on?  Where is God asking you to pause in the busyness of your life?  

Man of Steel

[General Zod an alien like Superman turned demanded that Superman, Kal-el, (Henry Cavill) be turned over to him.  This is the conversation before he is turned over.]

This clip is extremely Christian.  This is the very nature of what Christ did for us.  There was a tyrant, General Zod demanding the life of us for his purposes.  It was Christ, or Superman, who gave himself over for the good of the many.  

Superman states that he is surrendering to mankind not to Zod, just as Christ surrendered Himself, took on humanity, taking the form of a slave, so that He might save the many. Lois Lane asks about the S on his chest, and he responds that it is not an S, but rather a symbol for hope.  It is kind of cool how Christ himself transformed a symbol of ours as well.  Imagine that Christ came to change what the cross should mean.  This was an equivalent to an electric chair.  The cross was not a simple of hope, but rather despair.  It is something you stayed away from, yet Christ came and changed its meaning.  Why is it a symbol of hope?  Because it is through this action that HE saved us. 

Another thing to point out from the clip is that Superman gets up, and easily breaks the handcuffs and "puts his cards on the table."  The room filled with the general, and doctor are worried that they cannot control Superman.  We freak out when we recognize we have to surrender power.  They recognize that they need Superman, and he is a liability.  How often do we see Christ the same way?  We look at Him and are afraid of Him because we cannot control Him. We have to trust in the good will of who He is, and what He says.  Superman states it well..."but that doesn't mean I am your enemy."  We will never be able to control Christ, to bend Him to our will, but that doesn't mean He is our enemy.  

Lastly, Superman states "do what you have to do general."  It reminds me of how Christ willingly accepted being led to the crucifixion.  Notice that he never blamed Judas, or said how dare you.  He stated "What you are going to do, do quickly." (Jn. 13:27)

The Proposal

[Originally the couple (Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock) had done this to trick the system (laws and governments) otherwise Margaret Tate(Sandra Bullock) would be deported.]

So it is time for another sappy romance up here.  Even thought it has some of the classic blunders that I dislike in romantic comedies, it does highlight some really great things.

Notice that Andrew (Ryan Reynolds) has something he needs to say for the good of them both.  He is uncompromising in his statement of the truth.  She is free to reject him at any point along his speech.  Andrew realized that love is not something that you plan, it happens.  Yet it requires choice.  This is a big point to this clip.  Love is a sacrifice, a chose to be made.  It does not mean that everything is going to be fine, or that the fairy tales happen.  It is a choice made for the good of the other.  Andrew is talking about the love that he has for Margaret, that it is worth struggling for, and embarrassing himself if she says no, worth being scared.

Notice that Margaret said she enjoyed being alone, it was more comfortable.  We were not made to be comfortable..."our hearts our restless until they rest in you, O Lord." -St. Augustine.  Love is a risky business though as C. S. Lewis states, "To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable."  It is this fact that makes the act of Andrew, and the acceptance of Margaret so powerful.  Love moves us, it changes us, it is scares, we have to make the leap of faith.  

Patch Adams

[Patch Adams (Robin Williams) is on trial for unlawfully practicing medicine at a ranch (hospital). He has the knowledge.]

Patch Adams brings a wonderful observation that so often we forget in world.  Patch talks about the point of medicine, or being doctors, which is to help people.  Throughout the whole movie actually you can see this is his point, they are people not a condition, or a disease.  It is all well and good to treat the disease, and I believe doctors should do that, but not at the cost of the person.  Think about it for a second, what if you put the person through so many tests, procedures, and drugs only to find out that the person wanted to die in the first place, or at least that they were ready to die.  

So often in our jobs we start working on the task at hand, what we think the real problem is, and all the while we forget why we are doing it in the first place.  Step back and think for a second, why is it that a person works at a restaurant?  Is it simply to serve, or cook food well.  Yes, but only if there are people to serve or cook it for.  If we forget that the end task is people we always lose in the big picture.  

This happens in our faith too.  We start practicing the Faith well, going to Mass, or a Church service, Temple, or any place of worship.  We help out at the parish, we do volunteer work, we are a good citizen, I give money every Sunday.  But I ask you to what avail?  All those actions lose there clout if it is not borne from our relationship with God.  So often we get caught up in external aspects of our faith, and it makes sense, we can control those.  If we have done this at the cost of the relationship with God, then what have we lost?  So often we are Christian, but have forgotten Christ.  

So I encourage you, today take the time to pray!  Prayer, in its true form, is always about remembering, and living that relationship with God.  It reminds me that without Him, all the tasks in the world won't mean anything. 

Kindergarten Cop

[John Kimble (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is an undercover cop posing as a teacher.  He has just hit a father of a student when he recognized that the kid had bruises, given by the father.]

I bet you never expected to get a movie like this up here on the blog.  I wanted to take the time to show you that you can learn things from all sorts of places, which is actually part of my point about this clip.

So often we think we know exactly what it is to do a job, or to be good at it.  This is especially true of the older generation.  "I have been doing this since before you were born."  This is true, there is a point to doing what has already been done, "if it ain't broke don't fix it."  But we also need to be open to what comes up in life, since life is rarely predictable.  As the principal lectures on she points out something that we all need to be aware of, that good things can come from all sorts of unlikely places.

She tells him that she has no clue what type of cop he is, but the things he is doing as a teacher are working.  She can recognize when things are working, even though they do not fall in the conventional approach.  These are the types of bosses we need to have out there.  Ones that are open to something new, that things don't always have to go as they have always been.

Overall it is a fun movie, and references what I am sure many a teacher has thought about.  But what we should take from the clip, above all is to be open to things that are different from us, you never know it might work.