Toy Story 3

Last night I saw Toy Story 3. It was a wonderful movie. I laughed; I cried; I was entertained.

The movie has a rather sentimental touch to it. Andy has grown up and is preparing to leave for college.  The end of the movie impacted me deeply.  It was about growing up and moving on.  It showed the value and significance of childhood as a whole.  As Andy struggled to let go of his toys, as a viewer I struggled with my own attachments to childhood - a time when life was very different from now.

I cannot say that my childhood was carefree. Even as a child I was burdened with worries (it's just part of my personality).  However, childhood was a time of freedom.  Not only were my days filled with time to freely play and enjoy the beauty of life, but also my heart was filled with the freedom to love joyfully, fully, and unashamedly. I could appreciate the simple things. I rejoiced in the goodness of the world around me.  I played, learned, and grew with an innocence that made my approach to life then differ from my approach now.

At the end of Toy Story 3, Andy passes on the secret of childhood itself.  He helps another to more fully embrace its simplicity and grandness.  He rediscovered in himself (and helped us discover, too) the joy and the freedom to live and to love that childhood is blessed to understand.

P.S. There is a great lesson to be learned from the toys themselves.  They struggle to know their real purpose, to love unselfishly, and to sacrifice everything for each other and, together, for Andy.  They see that their purpose is to be there for a child, whenever that child needs them.  They recognize that their existence is not for themselves; they have a greater purpose.  Though they do not live that perfectly, they strive for it constantly.  The cling to each other to defend it.  And in the end, they are rewarded for it.

Jon and Kate Plus 8 (again)

I read an article last night (that I can't find this morning, so no link...sorry) about the season premiere of Jon and Kate Plus 8. The journalist quoted Jon saying something to the effect of "this isn't what I signed up for." (He was referring to the scandal involving his fidelity as well as all the paparazzi) The journalist went on to say that by agreeing to do the show, Jon did sign up for it. I could not disagree more. I think that it is unfortunate that the media (and society) think that we have the rights to every detail of celebrities lives. Somehow we think that since we pay them to entertain us, we own a right to their lives. This becomes exceptionally problematic when it is considered along with the fact that (1) human satisfaction is found only in God and (2) modern man is notorious of seeking that satisfaction in all the wrong places. One of those places is the media. Since man asks more from the media (satisfaction) than it can provide (because it is not God), man consequently asks more of celebrities than celebrities should ever have asked of them. Jon and Kate offered us the opportunity to come into their lives. However, that invitation should not detract from their right to decide which parts we can see. We shake our heads, or laugh, or find it exceptionally entertaining when the lives of celebrities are falling apart, but no one seems to want to admit the role we play in the destruction. I will say this, Jon and Kate should have seen this coming. This is what we do to celebrities all the time. We build them up and give them fame so that we can enjoy watching them fall. It is despicable, but it is no secret. This song by Bebo Norman, about Britney Spears, sums it up well. (The video has some inappropriate images, so don't watch, just listen...I couldn't find one that didn't)

Jon and Kate Plus 8

I don't watch the show often. When I do, it seems like I'm caught in a marathon event. Family life always has a certain level of captivating power over me. Tonight I watched the season premiere. I thought is was absolutely tragic. I came VERY close to turning off. I found it completely devastating to watch Jon and Kate's marriage fall apart before my eyes. I cannot imagine having to live what they are currently going through. I do NOT want to make judgments. I do NOT want to criticize. Jon and Kate are merely the stimulus for this train of thought I'm riding on; what follows here is in no way meant to be an analysis of their lives. I think that divorce is one of the most heart-breaking realities of our times. I cannot imagine having a marriage entered into with such hope, joy, dreams, and deep love fall apart. I cannot imagine the pain that must be involved when one looks back, as his marriage falls apart around him, on something that was entered into with such promise. A lot of times I have heard attempts to justify divorce with the claim that it will be better for the children. Somehow people think that if they end their marriage but remain friends, their kids will learn that they are important and loved. Perhaps the kids will learn that. However, I cannot agree with a claim that says that that situation (involving the destruction of the very foundation of society) is better than doing everything to fight for a marriage. I am not married. Nor am I close to it. I know that marriage is significantly harder than I could ever pretend to know it to be. However, I also know that self-giving love is the answer to the difficultly. It doesn't eliminate the difficultly, but it does provide a constant direction. It enables an individual to know at least the first step to solving marital problems: by dying to yourself. I think that it all begins with finding fulfillment in Christ and in learning not to seek fulfillment in your spouse. What the world is desperately crying out to understand is that no human can give you everything you need. That is not how we were created. We were created for a supernatural end, and it is only in the supernatural (only in God) that we can find satisfaction.