Happily Ever After

A little girl came home from school, bursting with excitement and enthusiasm over the day's story time.

"Mommy, today Teacher read us the story of Sleeping Beauty! It was wonderful! The Evil Queen placed the young Princess under a terrible sleeping spell! And she slept for ever and ever until a handsome Prince came and kissed her awake!"

"And Mommy, do you know what happened next?" the bubbling girl asked.

"They live happily ever after?" the Mother answered.

"No, Mommy," replied the daughter, "They got MARRIED!"

Well, I guess there are many ways to tell this story.

True Love's Kiss

Best scene in the move. A twist on the traditional solution.

The hero is the villain.

We seldom get the chance to revoke the curses that we have cast on others in our lives -- being kissed free from a curse cast on us by others is very, very rare -- love will do it where nothing else can.

Not magic -- reverse spells -- potions.

There is a strange and refreshing look at love in the Cinema these days. Maleficent places true love's kiss --- not the handsome Prince. Ana saves Elsa --- not the heroic fixer-upper. Romantic love is wonderful --- but we need so much more of all of us loving each other.

I love to see redemption. Salvation. Rescue. Revokation of wrong. Undoing (Ctrl-Z). Redoing. Unmaking. Remaking.

In me.

In you.

Hello, Beastie.

Revoking our curses

I thought that I had one more thought on Maleficent before departing (I've been rushing to True Love's Kiss and Happily Ever After, as everyone does!)

But, I keep coming back to another sad scene.

Maleficent magically tucks her Goddaughter into bed and is moved to revoke the terrible curse that she has placed upon her.

As I have mentioned . . . my eyes are adjusted for a Christian world view and I'm looking for spiritual truth and divine self-revelation everywhere I go (even in the movies).

Aurora's relationship (though at first in innocent ignorance) with the Evil Maleficent seems truly Christ-like. Jesus told His followers to bless those who curse them (Matthew 5:44). The young girl has certainly been a blessing to her malefactor. And that will be the key to unlocking this shackle in the end.

Can we revoke our own curses? Can we undo the wrongs that we have committed against others? Can we atone for our sins? Can we redeem ourselves?

It is very difficult in almost all cases, and certainly impossible in many. We can't turn back time, change the past, unring a bell, undo the action, or unsay the curse.

One of the reasons that the claims of the New Testament concerning Jesus hold such promise to me, and many others, is the hope of redemption -- from me and my curses.

 Galatians 3:13 records, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us:" The curse of the Law of God is in the fact that I have never obeyed it myself, and then I have cursed many who have not obeyed my laws or submitted to my wishes.

It's not magic. Magic doesn't work. It wasn't something magical, supernatural, or miraculous that Jesus did to purchase and pardon. He offered Himself in love for the cursed. And love . . . is the enemy of all curses.

Before happily ever after can be found, Maleficent must brokenheartedly discover that she cannot revoke her curse, she cannot negate it or remove it. She must meet its conditions. That is what she finally did.

I believe that is what Jesus did on the cross.

Own Your Name

Own Your Name

This is another examination of the Evil Fairy clip. Different observation.

Aurora has learned from her Aunts (her guardian fairys) that she lives under a curse that will soon crash down upon her.

She confronts her Fairy Godmother to confirm what she already knows. The curse was cast upon her by an "Evil Fairy."

"I can't remember her name . . . they said it was . . . . . . " 

"Maleficent."

Malicious. Malefactor. Malfeasance. 

Maleficent.

It is not just a name. It is her name. It is who she is, or who she was when she cast the cursing spell. It is her reputation, her character, her deeds.

We all are born under a curse, and we all have to find a way out. Because of our own cursedness and what I believe is our natural bent away from goodness and God we all make mistakes. We commit regrettable acts. We intentionally or unintentionally hurt, harm, and destroy. It is the nature of all humanity. The Bible says that we all have sinned (Romans 3:23).

If I am ever to find the way out from under my curse I must take personal responsibility for my life. I have to claim my name. I have to step up and own who I am. That's me. I'm the one.

Listen to this song by Becca Jackson:

 

The crime scene is still intact -

Those are my fingerprints -

My calling card -

Those are my tracks -

And I got my hands tied behind my back.

Never confess false accusations. Do not embrace the hateful aspersions of the mob, the throng, or the crowd. Never consent to wear a cloak of shame or defamation woven by those who only wish to defame, discredit, or disdain you. If you are like me, you will have enough genuine sin of your very own making to require your attention and confession.

But I must always be willing to say my name. Fill in the blank. Step up and own who I am. Take responsibility for me - what I have done that I shouldn't - or what I have not done that I should.

 

Is that you?

Is that you?

What we do defines who we are . . . from one moment to the next.

But what we have done, what has been done to us, what we have believed, what we have thought, or any one circumstance in our life need not be that which defines and determines who we are forever. (Is that you?)

Our curses need not destroy us.

The curses that have been placed upon us . . . or the curses that we have cast upon others . . . need not destroy us.

At one time or another in our lives we have had evil perpetrated upon us (or we will). Aurora is going to have to find a way to be better than what was done to her. We are all cursed to one extent or another . . . and the ones who cursed us, hurt us, wounded us, or scarred us are seldom the ones who will remove what hangs over us. (It is a poignant scene in Maleficent, where the Evil Queen tries desperately to remove her wretched birthday gift, and fails).

Aurora finds rescue from her curse through the transformation of Maleficent. But this is a fairy tale -- and that rarely happens. If truth be told, the young princess actually finds freedom from her grief, her tears, her disappointment and hurt -- from within herself.

At the end of the film, when Aurora awakes from her cursed dream, she smiles brightly, looks up into the face of the Evil Villain of this ancient fairy tale and says, "Hello, Godmother!"

That may or may not be who Maleficent is . . . but that is who Aurora is, and how she has decided she will proceed with her life.

Forgiveness is not a gift that one bestows undeservedly upon the perpetrator of evil . . . it is the healing balm that the wounded pour into their own heart. It does not matter most what effect the young girl's gracious attitude had upon the Curser, it matters most to the Cursed. Aurora's forgiveness might not save Maleficent, but it has certainly saved Aurora from the same kind of bitterness, regret, and pointless hatred that the Queen had chosen.

Maleficent must find a way to become more than the Evil that she has created . . . more than the Evil that she has become. Because somewhere in her darkened heart that is not who she is, or who she ultimately wants to be. Who in their right mind would want to be like that? Is there anyone who wants to be despicable? Or despised? Or hated? Or feared? Or rejected?

However, the Queen was not traveling under some imagined stigma placed upon her by a superstitious village or Kingdom. (That is not who we are). She was not branded unfairly by some ignorant social opinion. (When that happens, that is not who we are, either). 

Yes, we can become who others think that we are or want us to be, but we must choose to emulate the opinions of the proper accusers. In the end, Maleficent chose to finish that which was between her and the one who stole her wings and to nurture what an innocent heart chose to see in her.

Are you cursed? Is that you?

Have you cursed others? Is that you?

Maleficent - "I know who you are."

No one really knows who you are.

Ha! I don't even know who I am . . . how can I know who you are?

But, I know who I want to be . . . and I know who I want you to be. I think that I know what I can be, what I can become. 

Perspective. Presupposition. Preconception. Yes, and maybe even a dose of the good kind of Prejudice (pre-judging). Making up your mind, deciding to think the best about yourself - cutting yourself some slack, giving yourself a chance, allowing for any good possibility. Deciding before the facts, before the evidence . . . sometimes in spite of the evidence . . . or the truth.

Thinking yourself into becoming.

That is what Maleficent had done.  

It was not Stefan who created Maleficent. It was Maleficent.

Sure, Stefan did every terrible thing that was necessary to make the Queen of the Moors Evil - but it was Maleficent herself that gave consent, that permitted herself to become dark, angry, and vengeful.

To become hard and hateful. 

There are many in the world who want to make you, to create you, to form and shape you into something . . . someone . . . else.

But they cannot.  Only you can. Only I can.

If you accept that someone, something, or some event in your life has made you what you are, then that is what you will be. Or . . . you can be what you want to be . . . or the good that others want you to be, or need for you to be.

"I know who you are!"  

(Maleficent interprets accusation, blame, discovery of a blight. The uncovering or revelation of a failure, a flaw, and Evil.)

"Do you?"

"You're my Fairy Godmother!"

"What?"

Ha, ha, ha. Angelina portrays this shock and consternation so perfectly!

Aurora looked at Maleficent and saw what she could be, perhaps what she wanted to be. Aurora saw the Evil Queen as what she chose her to be.

I know, this kind of mistake, this naivete, can be risky, even very dangerous. It places us in harms way with others. But there is a chance, a frightening chance, that we might be able to save someone from who they are . . . who they think they are . . . who others have made them to be.

I want to be saved like that . . . by people who love me. Or by people who don't know me! Ha! Let me start with a clean slate, at least . . . or give me the benefit of your error in judgment, or mine. 

If I can see that I want this from others . . . then, I want to offer it to others.

I know who you are.

You are worth knowing. You have value. Your life has meaning. You are important. You are someone that I can care about, someone that I can love.

You are someone that God has created. You are someone for whom Christ died. And even if you do not believe that or accept that -- I do. And that is the way that I want to treat you. I hope that you will believe and accept that.

I don't know who you think that you are --- you may have that rare view that the psychobabblers today call a good self image. Good for you! Clue me in on that, and let me be a part.

I do not know fully who others think that you are. You may be loved and cherished by many. Good, good, good for you! I would be honored if you would count me in that number.

If you don't like who you are . . . let me give it a try.

If others don't like who they think you are . . . give me the chance to be contrary.

I know who you are. 

Don't be afraid.

Final Karate Lesson, and "Look eyes."

Daniel's patience has worn very thin by now --- if you are not completely familiar with the story of the movie, he is getting thrashed and bullied on a regular schedule. Embarrassed in front of his new girl friend -- humiliated in front of the whole school. And now he's being duped and taken advantage of by someone that he thought was sincerely offering to help him. Someone who would teach him how to defend himself.

He can't pretend any more. He's hurt and angry. He's disappointed and disgusted. He's lost all respect for his benefactor. He thought that providence had presented him with an advocate --- a Father figure --- a fixer --- a friend.

He quits. He storms towards the door. He's done. Finished.

But Mr. Miyagi will not let him leave. He has to put it together for Daniel. Look at this last clip.

Daniel assumed that all that he was doing was serving Mr. Miyagi. How demeaning. How belittling. How humiliating.

Everything for the Master --- and nothing for the slave, the pupil, the student.

Who could have seen? Who could have known that Daniel was learning Karate, and much, much more.

He was learning Karate --- and he was getting stronger --- and being finely tuned and trained to grow and become a champion and most of all he as gaining character and patience. He was not just being prepared to beat someone up. He was being prepared for something more --- something better and of greater consequence.

Is God teaching you? Are you Learning?

I know that He is teaching you. Are you learning anything? Are you aware of it?

I mean the whole big picture, big lesson?

Don't you wish that God would just beat all of your bullies, defeat all of your foes? He can solve all your problems, resolve all of your conflicts, answer all of your prayers. Heal all of your diseases. Why doesn't He just do that?

Better yet . . . couldn't he just take you right to Heaven ---- right now?

The Karate Kid is a heart-warming, inspiring movie. It is entertaining and enjoyable but it also has a lesson for all of us. A moral.

Do you want to know the message that I got from God while watching this movie?

He said "Wax on, wax off. Sand my floors, paint my fence and my house. Do whatever I ask you to do --- without hesitation and without doubt and question." "Trust me." "Serve me."

"I have a plan for you --- it is my intention to do something good for you." (Jeremiah 29:11)

And here are the words that clinch this lesson for me --- and show me how to apply it --- how to live it -------- "Look eyes . . . . " "Always look eyes."

God does want you to bow to Him ---- but the main thing is ----- always keep your eyes on Him. Always.

Paint'a Fence

Karate Lesson number three is "paint'a fence."

Mr. Miyagi doesn't even have the decency to even show up for Karate Lesson number four --- "paint house."

Where do you play out? Give up? Quit? When do you decide that your life is filled with meaningless and trivial activities that seem to fill life?

We felt that God had promised great things. World-changing things. Now we're painting a fence, or something less important or less productive. What is the point?

What kind of game is God playing? Is He amused.

Our Karate lessons have no pretense at all anymore. We are really just being taken advantage of by God -- or worse still, being ignored.

Okay. Paint'a fence, but I'm just getting angry now.

Lesson Two - Sanda Floor

Karate Lesson number two seems to resemble sanding the floor of Mr. Miyagi's porch deck.

 

  
OK. So I'll "sand'a floor." Maybe we'll get to the real lesson after I get this chore done.

Serving God (or others) can seem like pure drudgery at times. That is why we are so often driven to selfishness. But, being all about me always makes me shrivel up, dry up, and often give up.

If you are working for The Man, or your boss, or your mate, or a friend . . . you may run out of gas and patience quickly.

Paul the Apostle had a secret: "Whatever you have to do . . . do it with all of your heart -- as if you were doing it for God."

If you are not a believer, that will not work for you . .  . but it works for me.

Excuse me --- I have a floor to sand.

Wax on, wax off.

A Lesson about the Ways and Workings of God
 
The Karate Kid
1984 by Delphi Films
Starring: Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi
and Ralph Macchio as Daniel Larusso

The Karate Kid is a good family movie, though there is fighting, confrontation and conflict. There is some mild profanity but nothing outrageous. The lessons and morals of the movie are about discipline, friendship, respect, loyalty and perseverance.

Daniel is a normal high school student being raised by a single Mom. He's being bullied by a pompous and arrogant classmate who is using his skills as a Karate student to reign terror on anyone who happens to catch his dislike. Daniel becomes a prime candidate for his cruelty.

Perhaps if he learns Karate himself, he can protect himself. He gives it a try but all he does is make matters worse --- he finds himself in a dangerous predicament --- until rescue comes.

Daniel is delivered from a beating at the hands of a Karate Class Gang from a new friend. An unassuming, small Japanese man named Mr. Miyagi.

Miyagi single-handedly whips the whole gang without really harming any of the bullies at all. He just embarrasses them. Those who have been only pretending at an art are shamed by a true Master.

Daniel is surprised, grateful and relieved to know that he now knows someone who can teach him how to defend himself.

With great reluctance, Mr. Miyagi agrees to teach Daniel the ancient martial art of Karate that he learned from his own Father.

Take a look at this first clip from the movie to see Daniel's first Karate Lesson.

It really looks more like washing and waxing Mr. Miyagi's car than a Karate Lesson. But Daniel is grateful to his deliverer and protector and owes him something for what Mr. Miyagi has done for him ---- so, wax on, wax off. 

Sometimes it is difficult applying ourselves to the work of God or obeying the ways of God. Often it looks like we are wasting our time or doing menial things that make no difference. Does God give us chores just to keep us busy? Just to see if we will obey? Or is there always a method and meaning to God's madness?

The answers to those questions will not be immediately apparent as we do what God wants us to do. But, He has promised that He has something good in store for us.

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

On the Right Flight

Garland Green is a serial-killing, mass-murderer who joins the cast of characters (in the movie, Conair) just after the Convicts take over the plane. The cons, posing as security guards, are forced to make one stop in the midst of their getaway to pick up this additional prisoner. If they fail to make this stop their cover will be blown to early in their escape.

Upon learning of this development Poe deadpans, "He's on the right flight."

That's a very dramatic attempt to see something "right" in a very "wrong" scenario!!

But sometimes with all the spin you can spin, all of the positive thinking, all of the optimism you can muster and looking for that silver lining behind that cloud there are just some situations that seem to be destined to be desolate and anything good.

And when just one more bad thing is thrown onto the pile we're not really surprised.

But here's a spoiler: good things do happen in this story . . . and it has a happy ending for our hero.

Believer's in God have been prophetically given the promise of good things even in bad times . . . . and a happy ending. That is a part of our faith. A part of what we are asked to anchor ourselves to.

When one bad thing after another is added to an already bad situation --- it doesn't necessarily mean that we are on the wrong flight. Not on the wrong path, or out of God's will.

It is possible that, even though your life seems to have been high-jacked, you are on the right flight. You are exactly where God wants you to be.

Hang on. Don't lose hope.

God Exists . . . When things are going to Hell

You can find God in the most unusual places. The movie Con Air is one of those places. If you've watched the movie, you've seen that the film is violent and crude with lots of tension and melodrama. It's not a family film (a great deal of violence --- some adult situations and language) but it does portray some very good values in it's heroes.

Though the question about the existence of God is not a central theme of the movie it is one of the threads in the story where God makes a direct appearance (so to speak). The other threads of godliness are found in friendship, loyalty, devotion, commitment and courage in the face of overwhelming odds and circumstances.

Synopsis of the Movie: The name Con Air is a play on the airline named ComAir. The movie name refers to the fact that an airplane is being used to transport a group of dangerous criminals ("Cons" or "Convicts") by air to a high security prison facility.

Most of the passengers (all in shackles) are violent, high-risk, high-security criminals. Only a few are your average run-of-the-mill convict. One in particular --- our protagonist, Cameron Poe --- is a very low-risk prisoner who has really already served his time and is on the flight only as a means of transferring him from where he served . . . . to freedom.

But things go wrong almost immediately . . . the cons take over the plane . . . and the authorities are after them in hot pursuit to bring them down.

Poe is caught between the violent criminals on board the plane and the Feds --- trying to survive so that he can be reunited with his wife and see his daughter for the first time while at the same time trying to save the lives of the prison guards and his best friend who is first in diabetic shock and then wounded by gunfire.

It's complicated and moves fast --- but if you're paying attention you can see some very good qualities surfacing all through a very bad situation.

Con Air
1997
Touchstone Pictures
Directed by Simon West

Great Compliment

The Best Compliment of My Life

This scene starts out with Melvin saying, "I have a great compliment for you." This frightens Carol but she braces herself because she knows there's no stopping what's to follow.

And what follows is one of the greatest compliments I have ever heard.

It's a little complicated (like Melvin himself) and requires some setup and explanation. But it's worth it.

"You make me want to be a better man."

Nicholson's delivery and acting is superb as he fidgets and fumbles to say the lines as Melvin would. But what is priceless . . . perfection . . . and unforgettable . . . is the speechless changing expressions on Helen Hunt's face as Melvin's meaning dawns on her.

Watch her face. The camera zooms ever so slightly. There are actually about 5 different phases to her expression. Her eyes glisten with tears and ungraspable emotion.

I can watch it (and I have) over and over again. It always touches me.

"And the winner of the award for best female actress in a leading role is: Helen Hunt!"

She has my vote.

When Melvin says, "You make me . . ." Carol knows that he is describing something that is coming from a different place than all of the other voices and demons that he is a slave to every moment of his life.

He's not talking about a compulsion . . . he's not obsessed with her . . . he loves her. And what is coming from him now is something that he genuinely wants to give to Carol.

He's saying, "You inspire me," "You stir me," "You lift me up," "You empower me."

Is there anyone or anything in your life that makes you want to be a better man, a better woman?

This is what puts every thing that I "hate" (I'm using the word "hate" here) or every thing that I don't like or every thing that I wish was different in my life or in the the world in general a proper perspective.

I can do it, I can bear it, I can withstand it, I can surpass it. Because those very things -- my troubles, trials, and tribulations . . . have the greatest possibility of making me a better man.

And I want that.

OK. Here I go . . . . Lord, I want to offer you praise. You make me want to be a better man.

                      Give someone a great compliment today.

There is no spoon.

I  don't know how metaphysical you are, but for me . . . I get tired of reality and all of its limitations. 

To realize the truth (make the truth real) you have to edge off into some deep water, get out of your comfort zone, and let your mind think outside the box.

Even farther than outside the box.

There is no box.

There is no spoon.

I believe that it has always and ever been true that we cannot bend the spoon.  That would be impossible!

The only thing in God's universe that He has given me the power to bend is me.

YOU are not my problem.  You are not my obstacle. You are not my hope. You are not my source. You are not the key to my success or failure. You are not the center of my life. I value what you think of me, but ultimately it does not matter. 

You and many others wish me well . . . or ill. But that does not matter in the scheme of all things.

I furrow my brow, clench my fists and my teeth. I focus and concentrate . . . spending day after day after day aiming the force of my entire being staring with laser attention at spoon, after spoon, after spoon.

Take another look at happy people.  At contented people.  At successful people. At the people that you admire for their peace, calm, and state of being. They are not spoon-bending . . . nor are they trying to bend you.

I have discovered people who know the truth.  

We cannot change, order, manipulate, or bend others. We can only bend ourselves.

There is no spoon.

It's a metaphor.

This is the kind of loser I am . . .

I swing . . . I make contact . . .

Then I always try something that I NEVER try . . . do more than I can do . . . be more than I can be.  To accomplish something that I have never accomplished before.

And I fail.  And I fall.

Down.  Embarrassed.  Humiliated.  Mortified.  Crushed.  Exposed.

And all the time . . . . . I knocked it out of the park.  

It's a metaphor.

Just enjoy the show . . .

I think I'm just like Billy Beane . . . I'm such a loser . . .

Did he get it?     I think maybe he did.

Will I?

I think that this could be my "Let It Go" song.

My "Let It Go" movie.

*

A Reckoning

It is important, when trying to understand the ways of God, to know the difference between "revenge" and "a reckoning."

"Fairness" and "Justice."

"Punishment" and "Judgment."

We must also see the identification of "sowing and reaping" (Galatians 6:7) with "the wages of sin" (Romans 6:23).

Hindus call it Karma . . . God calls it getting what you work for. God doesn't malevolently and maniacally rain down trouble and misfortune upon us . . . He just insures that our crops come up . . . our chickens come home to roost . . . our dogs come up on the porch.  

We choose to eat the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and God has promised that when we do that we will experience Good if we choose to know it . . . and to know Evil, if that is our choice.

It was an odd situation for such a scoundrel to be on the right side of the reckoning that he was a witness to ("You ever seen anything like that?"  "#@$%, I never even heard of anything like that!")

He said with great pride and commitment, "Wyatt Earp is my Friend!"

Jesus . . . is mine.

.