When I compile my all-time favourite movies (The Last of the Mohicans, Legends of the Fall, Apocalypto, Gladiator) they all seem to have a common theme- adventure, sweeping landscapes, stirring classical soundtrack, wildness. The kind of movies that you watch and then go to bed and dream of being in a different place in a different time and being wild!
I watched 'Into the Wild' the other night and it's gone straight into my top 5! The amazing true story of Christopher McCandless who sold all he had, gave the money to Oxfam and went to live in the Alaskan wilderness by himself. Read about him here.
The movie covered many thoughts I have had about escape, wildness, society and in particular travelling alone. I have always had a desire to take off by myself on an adventure. Where I'm unknown, free from expectations and responsibility. However I have also spent much time considering if any experience would be true and fulfilled if experienced alone... with no-one to share it or to remember it.
I have asked this question to many travellers that I've met. The story of McCandless is quite emphatic on this. The clip below shows the part of his journey where he is alone and starving and remembering the people he met when he first set out. What he writes is the essence of his story:
'Happiness is only real when shared'
On that note we are looking at 'Community' in TRUE tomorrow night. Don't miss it!
My brother JBAM left this song as a comment on my last post. I post it by way of apologising to him for taking his car and abandoning it in Carrickfergus (this too shall be made right!).
Also because the lyrics are powerful and moving. Check it out on youtube, by a guy called Derek Webb:
people love you the most for the things you hate, and hate you for loving the things that you cannot keep straight. people judge you on a curve, and tell you you’re getting what you deserve, this too shall be made right
children cannot learn when children cannot eat. stack them like lumber when, children cannot sleep. children dream of wishing wells, whose waters quench all the fires of Hell. this too shall be made right.
the earth and the sky and the sea are all holding their breath. wars and abuses have nature groaning with death, we say we’re just trying to stay alive but it looks so much more like a way to die. this too shall be made right.
there’s a time for peace and there is a time for war a time to forgive and a time to settle the score a time for babies to lose their lives a time for hunger and genocide this too shall be made right
I don’t know the suffering of people outside my front door I join the oppressors of those who I choose to ignore I’m trading comfort for human life and that’s not just murder it’s suicide this too shall be made right
I showed this video in cell on Friday night. The dialogue is from a well known sermon by S M Lockridge. It was recorded on some dodgy device at the back of an African-American church many years ago. Technology has improved the sound and 'Ignite Media' have put it over some drum & bass and nice images.
At present I feel entrapped in place of disillusionment and frustration. So many dreams unfulfilled and goals unrealised. I want to lay down my life to see this kingdom come but struggle to surmount the extenuating circumstances and self-doubt that block the way.
These words have grasped my heart and brought fire to my soul. To be a true servant of this irresistible King is the chief end of all of my hopes, dreams and ambition.
Brian H wrote recently about TV evangelists, expressing much of the righteous anger that my mates and I have often shared. These multi-millionaires with their prosperity gospel. Is this why Jesus was beaten and crucified? So we could have more stuff??
They steal from the sick and the vulnerable with twisted scripture and fraudulent promises. Promises of health, money and a long life if only we could have a little faith and make a donation to the 'Lord's work'.
Anyway, it's not all bad. Here's a video I enjoyed....... (I have a child-like faith!)
'Mock the devil and he will flee from you' C.S.Lewis
Well my wee bro got married yesterday. Was a beautiful day. Great to have the extended family under one roof along with friends old and new. Felt proud to be his groomsman, brother and friend..... and delighted that he now has a mighty fine wife!
Anyway for those who requested it, here is the video we showed. I'm glad to say that Sheena's mum has forgiven us!
Ok last burst of frustration then I'll try and lighten up the blog for a while.
Tomorrow marks the fifth anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq. George Bush said today that they had achieved:
"a major strategic victory in the broader war on terror".
Agreed?
700,000 killed and 4 million refugees..... and here is the financial cost... keep reading......
It is estimated that the overall cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is somewhere between $5 trillion and $7 trillion for the US alone and another $6 trillion for other countries.
Officially, the US spends $16 billion every month to occupy Iraq and Afghanistan (this figure includes only direct expenses).
The United Nations estimates that $195 billion would end world hunger and most of the devastating diseases afflicting the world’s poor. AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, extreme poverty could all be brought into manageable numbers or completely eradicated for less than the cost of one year of war in Iraq!!!
The world is so screwed up.
(btw this is a criticism of War, not of America which has produced many good things and great people like Eilis!)
Brian H had a great poem on his blog recently about the task of a Christian being recklessness. Well a lot of rage has gathered inside me that needs venting.
Violence breeds violence. Violence escalates. How stupid is mankind? Will we never learn? Violence makes things worse.
Last week the Israeli army killed 125 people in Gaza (over half civilians including many children). Their blockade on Gaza amounts to collective punishment by denying Palestinians their basic human needs. Christian Aid, Amnesty and other organisations have critisised the situation stating that the peopel of Gaza are 'battered and starved'.
The Israeli government say their actions are to stop rocket fire. Has it stopped? Of course not it has got worse. The threat on the Israeli people has become greater because of their government's actions.
Also last week a Palestinian gunman slaughtered 9 Israeli students in Jerusalem. What did he hope to achieve by taking these innocent lives? He has put his own people under more threat.
Further afield.......... The US (and allies) want to defeat terrorism so they bomb the hell out of Afganistan and Iraq.
The war costs the US $275 million per day
Almost 4,000 U.S. soldiers killed and more than 60,000 wounded
700,000 Iraqis killed and 4 million refugees
Is terrorism defeated? No it is has grown and spread and become a greater threat than ever before.
The thing that pisses me off more than anything is Christians who (even on this blog) justify the some of the actions I have mentioned as being part of God's plan.
Not the God I believe in....... The God I believe in makes it possible to view all men as equal- Arab and Jew, Iraqi and American.
"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend. We never get rid of an enemy by meeting hate with hate; we get rid of an enemy by getting rid of enmity. By its very nature, hate destroys and tears down; by its very nature, love creates and builds up. Love transforms with redemptive power." ((MLK) thanks Bro T!)
