Three Things

Everybody needs therapy. I don’t mean the “lie down on the couch and tell me your problems” type. What I mean is the type of therapy that goes straight to the soul and gets us through the days when we all wonder why we continue to try. I’m talking about the type that helps us, as the Bard said, to look on tempests without being shaken. How is it in a world where we have all these things to make our lives easier that they have become harder? Why is it that we have self esteem issues, financial issues, martial issues, and all these other things that make us get headaches? Have we walked the path so long that we have lost our way back to what is really important? Who erased the chalk marks on the wall? How do we find our place once more? I’m not sure how you do it, but I’ll tell you how I do it. I focus on three things. These things are odd, but I am an odd person. They are not cliché. I do not mean to talk expressively about family and friends, religion, or my job. Those things are truly at the core of all human beings and are far too complex for this essay. What I mean to write about are the simpler things that make the more complex things come into focus. It is about looking to the simple for higher inspiration. And with that, I submit to you my three things.

1. Going Barefoot:

It is a simple thing isn’t it? Taking off your shoes and just walking or sitting or playing “footsie” with your wife/husband is far underrated. Have you ever stopped to think about what the world has done to you with regards to this issue? Let me see if I have you pegged: You wake up in the morning, get out of bed, take a shower, get dressed, go to work, come home, get undressed, go to bed…..rinse and repeat. Have you stopped to think that your feet literally never touch the ground? Yes you walk on carpet, but you are never rooted to the dust from whence you came. There is something to be said about feeling the ground, the real ground, underneath your feet. Grass, or dirt, gives us that connection to creation that makes me remember why I’m here and just how fleeting my life is. It makes me feel real and absent from the artificial. It makes me remember that I came into this world barefooted, and that I’ll go out of it barefooted. It makes me remember the first steps of my daughter. It makes me feel a little more at home in a world that I don’t feel at home in at all. This is not some “bra burning, hippie” thing; it is about roots to the creation. It extends to everything we are and speaks to our core being. The next time it snows, try walking out to your mailbox with no shoes. If that doesn’t make you feel alive, you are truly beyond help.

2. Smiling in the Mirror

So many of us look in the mirror and don’t like what we see. We see fat people, ugly people, old wrinkly people, unhappy people or inadequate people. Some of us look and see how pretty we are and get eaten by vanity. I see all these things from time to time too, but I do something a little different. I smile at myself in the mirror. I do not do this out of insanity or vanity. I do it because the fellow in that mirror could use a smile. Have you ever randomly smiled at a stranger? What happens when you do? They usually smile back. When I smile in the mirror, the guy in there always smiles back. Do we truly understand that some people never see a smile? Sometimes the smiles I give to people are the only ones they have seen all day. I know how it makes me feel when someone smiles at me. With that said, what better thing to do for yourself than to smile into the mirror. I look Tom right in the eye and smile at him because I have a sense of self worth and acceptance. The fellow in there has flaws both physical and spiritual, but as a whole I see a guy who is trying his dead level best to be a good Christian, father, step-dad, husband, man, mentor, teacher, friend, comedian, writer, singer, leader, photographer, business owner, expert MMO player, grill master, artist, deacon, lover, and human being. Of course I sometimes see an ugly, fat, sinner, but I am reminded that the earth is a sphere. East is always East. West is always West. North turns into South, and South turns into North if you keep going far enough. I smile because we are told that God will cast our sins as far as the East is from the West if we ask him. He didn’t say North or South for a reason. I’ve asked Him to do this for me. It gives me a reason to smile at myself in the mirror. It helps me to know that I never have to double back on my own mistakes. I can let them go and smile.

3. Basking in Silence and Solitude

Silence and solitude are both odd things for me. They are my reset button. I revel in them. I recharge in them. Some would see the things I do as crazy, but I wonder how many others do the same things but fear to admit to them. 3:00 AM will often find me roaming the darkness of my home. Sometimes I’m up and I cruise the rooms of my house. I go to my children’s rooms and look at them. I make sure they are breathing, safe, and warm. I look at my wife and trace the line of her jaw gently with my fingers. Then, I listen to the house. I listen to the immense silence that rises up at this time of day. I bask in the lonely darkness, and I recharge. Solitude must be had to appreciate community. Even Superman had a fortress of solitude. It is in these moments that I can hear my heart and feel the thankfulness rise up in me for all that I have. I have a home, simple as it is, filled with stuff I really don’t need but filled with people that I really do. I sometimes go look at the stars and tremble in awe at the sight of them. I’m so small, yet there is only one of me. The piercing clarity of these moments creates a sharp pathway straight to my soul. It lets me take things out and examine them in ways I can’t do any other time. It is like Mr. Life just comes and visits me at these times and brings his friends Appreciation and Humility with him. Solitude only speaks in silence. It is in this moment that I understand what: “Be still and know that I am God.” really means.
And then….I can face the music.

Monsters

MONSTERS is a very unique and special film. Ripe with symbolism and social commentary, it is a parable of deep proportions. It is a film about relationships. It is a film that slowly builds. The intensity moves quietly along, but the film never gets emotionally comfortable. It is not an “edge of your seat” film in the modern sense. It is an exercise in a slow burning discomfort that never really lets up. Technically the film is shot beautifully. Each scene has an almost lavish feel to it. Clearly, the art involved was tended to with loving care.

The acting is executed in such a way that makes the characters feel like normal everyday people. It is a simple task to believe them and come to know them during the course of the movie. The subtle way in which they portrayed “real” people in a bad situation is simply perfect. This film has something so many of its type do not: character development. I honestly couldn’t pick out a single character that didn’t seem genuine.

The background noise of the human drama that unfolds on screen is the presence of gigantic aliens that really reminded me of some form of Cuthulian horror. Honestly, the aliens are magnificent looking. The beauty of the creatures seems to be in their animal nature. Yet they seem to encompass an almost sweet connection to each other and the gas station scene is the crown jewel of the film. It is only then that the viewer comes to fully realize what the movie is about. Everything seeks a place in this world, and we all need to be loved. We all need to be lifted towards a place we can call home. And the definition of “home” is surely put to the test. It is not a just place to live, but it is whom you live with that makes it.

There are certainly comments in the film about immigration, government involvement, and even the difficulties of traveling these days, but the film is not heavy handed and is one of the most subtle presentations of these ideas I have ever seen. The movie is immense in its scope and ramifications. It is deep and powerful. The love with which it was obviously rendered and written speaks very clearly from the screen. The development of the character’s souls is timeless and powerful. I was heartbroken, tense, exhausted, and moved throughout the entire movie.

In a day of over the top action movies, this was as refreshing as a spring rain. The expectations of many audiences will be challenged. If one goes into the film expecting Godzilla or Independence Day, it simply will not happen. What will occur is so much more than that. It is a deep, meaningful, believable presentation that will set the mind working and hopefully open up the possibility of a deepness in science fiction film that has only just begun to emerge in this day of an Attention Deficit Disorder society.

Why Is There Suffering?

Recently, my pastor asked if I would answer a few questions from an apologetic standpoint about suffering. He gave me a list of questions to answer, and I did my my best to do them justice. Maybe this will help someone out there.


How is the existence of evil proof of God?

By using a logical thinking process, let me explain.

• Most all of us would say that taking a baby and burning it with a lighter is evil.
• Even most murders in prison would agree that this would be an evil thing to do.
• Even if it didn’t bother some people to do such a thing, they most likely would identify the action as evil.
• If God does not exist, then there is no standard and therefore no such thing as good or evil
• Everything would be an opinion.
• Clearly, there is such a thing as evil: Burning a baby, The Nazi’s; The 911 attack, etc.
• Therefore, there must be a God that has instilled the concept of moral laws into humanity.

Our society judges Tiger Woods, Charlie Sheen, and so many more based on a standard. Where does that standard come from? It can’t come from society, because it would only be an opinion if there is no good or evil. It must come from God.


What would you say are the main reasons we have suffering?

First I’d like to say that it is easy to sit up here and talk about this when a person is not going through a certain type of suffering. I have no qualifications to talk about every instance in life. I just want to try and explain this from my world view. I have felt suffering, and so have all of you. It differs from person to person and case to case, but it has happened since the fall of man. This is one of the hardest questions to answer from an apologetic standpoint, but I’m going to try.

We suffer because of several factors: Evil, our sinful choices, and God’s punishment.

However, the main reason suffering happens is this: God created a world that was perfect. When mankind sinned it changed the environment of our world. The natural state of the earth when it was first created was a land of bliss. It was fellowship with God. It was total freedom. It was light and love. Now after sin entered into the world, this became a place of suffering. People say, “Why does God allow it? What is He doing about it?” The facts are this: As long as you live in a land of suffering, you will be subject to suffering. You have to die to escape. Can you swim in a pool without getting wet? You may wade in and not get as wet as some people, but you’ll still get wet. God’s nature will not allow Him to put an end to suffering here. His nature does allow Him to make a path of escape. Why on earth do you think we die? Yes it is the wages of sin, but imagine if we lived on in this world forever in this state of suffering. Here’s something that will blow your mind. Jesus, God in the flesh, came to earth…to this land of suffering and death. He had hunger pains, he teethed as a baby, he was too cold, he was too hot, he has to deal with his own body odor, he probably stubbed his toe, he may have had sinus trouble, he was sleepy, he was tired, he was a man of sorrows, he was lonely, he was forsaken by his father, he was whipped, humiliated, and killed unjustly. He did this to put an end to suffering. He left prefect fellowship in heaven where He was comfortable, adored, cherished, clean, and satisfied, to come to this literal Hell Hole to save you and me. If you think God caused suffering, get the biggest mirror you can find and stand in front of it. The person in there is the culprit. It was me guys. I caused all this mess. Certainly God could intervene and does at times in specific cases, but the natural state of our world is what it is. We can’t escape it on our own anymore than we can escape being human.

Is there anyone here today that will not go through suffering?

In a word: No. Sooner or later something awful will happen to you or someone you love. Period. I’m not going to gloss it over or pretend it won’t happen because that would make me a liar. It is how we deal with these things that is important. Billy Graham once said, “You’re born. You suffer. You Die. Fortunately, there’s a loophole.”


How do we respond to those suffering? What can we learn from Job’s friends?

To me the best way to deal with this is to express love. Job’s pals didn’t come up to him a say, “I know just how you feel.” They didn’t say, “Is there anything we can do.” They cried for him and tore their robes and put dirt on themselves and sat down to suffer with him. Now they said some silly things later on, but at first they had the right idea. The best thing we can do when suffering comes is to pray and hold on tightly to each other with as much compassion as we can manage. Sometimes just being there is enough. I don’t know about you, but I think this is why no matter what we say to someone in grief that it sounds inadequate to even our own ears. We just need to be there for each other. That is what we should do, and that is exactly what God does.

Who is your Biblical role model for how to handle suffering?

There are many good ones, but I identify with David more than any of the others. The main reason is that I feel some of the same struggles he did. He also brought a lot of suffering on his own head because of his actions. I have done this too. However, David understood the nature of God. When he had done wrong with Bathsheba and was told that the baby would die, he sat in sackcloth and ashes because he knew that God was a God of mercy and forgiveness. He knew God might show him undeserved mercy. When God let his child die, he didn’t turn bitter towards God. He stood up, washed and started living again. When he was asked why, he said that God might have allowed his child to live, but since he didn’t that the best thing for him to do now was to live right and to go to his child in Heaven one day. David was more concerned with loosing the Holy Spirit than he was with any suffering he might have to endure. He could endure it all if only God would forgive and restore him. I want to have that same attitude.



What will be your process of dealing with things when you suffer?

I will probably cry, make deals with God, go into depression, etc. However, I hope I won’t or at the very least when I come to my senses and remember what I believe I hope I will address it the way it should be. I trust God. That is the long and short of it. I am also a fallible human being with plenty of fear. When it happens, I will pray. We all have to remember a few things as we go through life, and this one is hard to grasp. God has out best interest at heart. He does not cause suffering or allow suffering to happen to us because He is mean. Remember we live in a realm of suffering. What He does do is use suffering to make us more like Him. How many times in the Bible has he done this? He does not will us to sin, but He can turn our sin into something that He can use for His glory. It is not about us. He is the giver of life, and He has the right to take it when He chooses. We are not our own. That is scary, but we must trust in a good God. As C.S. Lewis said, “He is isn’t safe, but He is good.” We also have to remember that we do not know what we want. We think we do. We think we want one thing, but we really don’t. God knows what we want. Let me explain that because it is a hard concept to get hold of. We strive for things that will never satisfy us. We think we want things that will not fulfill us. What we really want is fellowship with God. You know that melancholy feeling you get sometimes? It is because you are a stranger in a strange land. You don’t belong here. You were made to worship God and fellowship with Him, and that alone will ultimately satisfy you. You can never be satisfied fully on this earth. You can be content, but never totally fulfilled. Work won’t do it. Relationships with people won’t do it. Money won’t do it. Only a fully realized relationship with God will accomplish it. That can only happen in Heaven when we see Him face to face. We are made according to His purpose…not ours. Mops are made to mop. They are not made to stir spaghetti sauce. Only when they mop are they fully realized for what they are. If mops could feel, they would not be happy unless they were mopping. They might think they want to sweep, but they would not be happy doing that. God knows what you need even when you don’t. Suffering sometimes moves us towards that fellowship and dependency on God. Look at your past. When has your faith in Him grown? Nobody, including me, wants to sign up for that lesson. I don’t want to suffer. However, suffering will happen, and if I let it, it will pull me towards God even more.

Valhalla Rising

Valhalla Rising is one of those films that comes along rarely and disappears into obscurity before it truly gets noticed. The movie is a brutal expression of beauty with existential questions. One Eye is a tremendous character that is shown in all his base brutality, yet he has not lost his humanity. He does what it takes to survive and protect those important to him. The use of a small boy as a “sidekick” figure is a stroke of brilliance. In a world of unmitigated cruelty, One Eye finds a place in his heart for a child. Even though he doesn’t utter a word, his emotional state is clear. It is a mark of a truly gifted actor to be able to deliver such a vivid portrayal without speaking. The plot of the film is ripe with legend and intrigue, and it is an overall satisfying romp.

The strongest point of the film is its incredible camera work, and the striking visuals would make the movie worth seeing if the film had nothing else to offer. The camera angels are employed by a true artist, and the surreal and disturbing scenes grab the viewer by the throat and send waves of discomfort to the soul. It is not that the movie is overtly oppressive; it is simply capable of delivering a feeling of “creepiness” and otherworldly flavor better than most films I have seen. The fact that One Eye sees things with his one eye that others do not nods to ancient beliefs and gives credit to its literary predecessors.

The only negative aspect of the film, to me, is the chapters. They seem to break the film up into acts in an unnecessary manner. Honestly, the movie is so well crafted that the distinction of parts is unnecessary, and I found them somewhat distracting. I understand the convention, but it feels as if the director is trying to hand hold the audience a bit. Some of the imagery in certain segments will strike the viewer as odd and difficult to understand. This film requires you to use your brain and have a basic to advanced understanding of symbolism to understand certain scenes. In particular, the act entitled “Hell,” has some bizarre occurrences and requires some symbolic extrapolation to digest. This segment portrays vice, filth, ritual, and madness with perfect clarity. It is disturbing and disgusting in places. Everything is dirty, gray and grimy.

The power of Valhalla Rising rests in its ability to suck the viewer into the rich visuals and complex plot devices it gives out in wondrous measure. It is not a happy movie. It is not for the lame of brain. It is a beautiful piece of violent art that slips quietly into the nether regions of the barbarian heart and finds morality and hope inside. It is a picture of the depraved, the fanatical, the insane, and is a vision of one man willing to do what he needs to do to cross the gates of life into the pages of legend.