Archive for Random Musings
Blind Spots
Posted by: | CommentsI was watching a game last night between the Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks. It was a game from last season, played in the Boston Garden. It was also Boston’s Comcast Network’s recording of the game, so the commentators were obviously a little biased. And if I may say so gently, whoever the color commentator of the game, was actually just plain bad.
After a few comments concerning calls that went against the Celtics and observing the silence that accompanied any calls that went for the Celtics, I began to wonder about my own blind-spots in life. For it was obvious that these commentators wanted the Celtics to win to such a degree that their observations concerning the officiating were obviously skewed. Their desire dictated their perspective on matters. And in my opinion, their perspective was rather wrong more than a few times while I watched.
So it is in our lives. There are things we want so much that we keep ourselves from seeing things as they really are. Even the over-desire for good things causes us to skew our own perspectives, just like those commentators. And the worse thing is that in our lives, the things we fail to see clearly because we desire certain things too much are not the calls of an official, but oftentimes the most important realities in the world.
Imagination: Better than a Movie
Posted by: | CommentsIf my Amazon Widget thing were working off the right of my page, you would be able to see that I am currently reading The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. They are, quite simply, great books. Or I suppose I should say it is one great story, because it really is all one, divided as it may be. It has taken me a while to move through the work, and I still have a little less than a third to go, but I have enjoyed it thoroughly.
I have, however, run into one problem: I watched the movies first.
What a mistake this was. In hindsight, I think I would have been better off locking myself in a room for a few days and completing the entire book before headed out to see the films. The reason? Well, because I realize that my imagination has been hampered by watching the films. Rather than allowing the book to stimulate images within, I keep thinking about Elijah Wood and the guy from Rudy.
This isn’t to say that the movies were bad. No way. After finishing my reading, I am going to watch them again. It’s just to say that they can’t be as good as reading the book and using your imagination. At least first. Not to mention, the movie can’t tell the entire story, even when it runs three hours, as the films do. A good rule of thumb for any classic book made into a movie seems to be: Make sure you read the book first!
It’s a good rule, one that leads me to a greater appreciation for a good story and the importance of reading good stories. Even more, it helps me understand why the Bible is such a powerful book, for it is the work of the greatest Storyteller and indeed, when rightly understood and embraced, contains the greatest story every told. No film can capture that entire work, only bits and pieces, so we better make sure to read that one first.
Back to Blogging: For real?
Posted by: | CommentsThe same thing happens every single time I move to a new place. For about one month, I am more or less out of sorts. I have difficulty finding a good routine because of my new surroundings and new schedule and little things fall by the wayside. My emails pile up (I think I have over 50 in my Next Action Folder (ones I have to reply to)…usually I try to keep it to 20 tops). Blog posts become scarce. Life is just a bit scattered.
Then things begin to settle down and I realize how frustrated I am with the lack of routine. In my frustration, I write down my essentials. And one of the first things I do is start blogging about how important a good routine is! So here I am again. I suppose you could say that this process has become something of my routine. I just wish I could learn to adjust a bit quicker!
Yet at the same time, after picking up and moving to Italy for, Lord willing, the next 9 months, I have realized why finding a good routine is such a struggle. Indeed, I have seen more clearly than ever why this process of playing overseas is often so difficult. I spend three months at home (if I am a lucky one). By the time I leave, I have found a good rhythm And then I pick up and move to a new place where you have to more or less set up an entirely new life.
Where’s the grocery store? Where can we find the best bread? What bank do I need to get set up with and who can take me down there? Where can my kids find friends and activities? Where’s the best place to eat? The list goes on and on. Sure, they are all little things, but they are little things that I take for granted while at home. Indeed, they are what most of us take for granted. We just have all these little, normal life things set and don’t realize what comfort we derive from it. Or, if we don’t have them set, and move to a new place, the new place often is in the same country, so there is a certain degree of familiarity. We can usually find one of our favorite restaurants in the area. And most importantly, we don’t need someone to take us everywhere, because we actually speak the language. Not so here, at least for me.
In saying all this, I am by no means complaining. I learn a great deal through the process. And I see that it is wise to sometimes sit back and look at your life from the outside in order to understand why things might not be so easy. It helps you to relax a bit, believe it or not, and, at least for me, enjoy the journey. And maybe, just maybe, it will help me to blog consistently once again!
Lost in a Good Story
Posted by: | CommentsI don’t read a lot of fiction, but when I do, I almost always throughly enjoy it. J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit has proved to be no exception. I began it the other day after remembering that I have long wanted to read through all of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. The Hobbit is the first installment so to speak, so I figured I would begin there.
From my vantage point, there are view things more enjoyable than a good story. Or to be more specific: getting lost in a good story. Movies are stories and they often bring the same joy to me, but they can’t top a good fiction book. I know it is widely thought that a picture is worth a thousand words, but whenever I read fiction, I’m not so sure that is true. A good author not only sketches his characters well, but enables you to enter their inner world, and in turn, causes you to reflect upon your own. Doing that through film is a very difficult task. Might that be the reason we find so few really good films?
Land of the Lost- Not Funny
Posted by: | CommentsIn my last post, I talked about what we laugh at and how our laughter exposes what we truly value.
Well, this movie review of the new Land of the Lost movie serves to highlight my point.
And I suppose Will Ferrell himself highlights my point. For although I think some of what he says and does is very funny, the majority of what I hear and see from him probably should not be considered funny. The fact that people (myself included at times) laugh at most of what he does reveals more about the people than the material itself.
Sure, many people think he is hilarious, but I can’t help but be sure that most of what he says and does will never make for good comedy on the New Earth. In the end, I feel more comfortable being offended by much comedic material than I do laughing at it.
