Eat, Pray, Love

Tonight I watched the move Eat, Pray, Love starring Julia Roberts. I have never seen a movie quite like it. I think I really liked it, but I'm still processing. There were moments I thought, "When is this going to end?" and moments I thought, "This may be one of the best movies I've ever seen."

Julia plays Liz, who is on a journey to find out who she is and what makes her happy--her "balance." She learns about pleasure vs. American "entertainment" in Italy--the slowing down and enjoying of life's good things. She learns about listening to herself, forgiving herself, and healing in India. In Mali, she learns to love without fear (or in spite of fear). In the end, she makes you want to go on your own journey of self-discovery.

Some of my favorite quotes include:

"This baby is demon possessed." "No, I think she's just teething." "Same thing."

"Ruin is a gift. Ruin leads to transformation."

"Sometimes you have to forego the balance in your life for a time to pursue love."

"God is present in me as me." -- What do you think about that? In a sense, I guess that's true. God lives in us, He's our Creator, and the totality of who we are is from Him, for Him, and because of Him.

Amidst the guru worship, you can find universal Truths that apply to everyone. You can learn from Liz as she mourns and grows--miserable yet grasping for hope. And she finds her hope from several small communities that she forms in each place she goes. People who love her and accept her. This is what we are made for!

She finds joy in leaving behind a miserable life to become temporarily more miserable but stronger, braver, and truer to herself in the end. Everyone wants to be known and loved. Everyone wants to be happy. Liz finally meets people who know her well and love her as she is.

As I viewed the beautiful sunsets and ocean views present in the film, the common grace of God astounded me. What beauty He allows us to enjoy! What joy there is to be had in the pleasures of life! It gives a glimpse of heaven. When everything will be made right, and we will all worship the right Person. I can be so judgemental and think that I have all the answers. I enjoyed learning about God, myself, and humanity tonight from a medicine man in Mali and a struggling woman who made hard choices in an effort to find peace.

Put on love

I have been greatly blessed of late by reading the Message Bible. (modern translation by Eugene Peterson) I have laughed with Paul, wept with Jesus, and enjoyed God's message to me in a new way. Here are some of my favorite passages...

from Psalm 100
"For God is sheer beauty, all generous in love, loyal always and forever." Amen!

"I'm on your side. You're not alone." Paul to the Colossians (convicted me about my attitude toward others--I want them to feel this from me)

"Everything finds its purpose in Jesus."

We are "woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God [which gives us] minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ (who contains the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge)."

from Psalm 18
"God is the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight. God made my life complete when I placed ALL the pieces before him."

"But because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am."

"Awaken to the holiness of life."

"Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort."

"Let Christ displace worry at the center of your life."

I was struck also while reading Mark 14 that at the very first Lord's supper, Jesus thanked God as he broke the bread and poured the wine--symbolizing the breaking of his body and the pouring out of his blood. All of our suffering is redeemed by God. If Jesus can thank God for the greatest suffering that ever took place on Earth, can I thank him for all of my suffering?