This has been one interesting Christmas. Right now I'm sitting in the emergency room waiting room with Amy and Dan and a man comforting his in-labor wife while watching the Brian Setzer orchestra perform a jolly rendition of "Jingle Bells" on the Late Show blasting through a cheesy mounted television. Don't worry, nobody got cut slicing the turkey or anything. Dad's suffering from some tingly feet syndrome we feared might turn into something worse if he let it wait until tomorrow to check out. So here we are... Christmas night... in the ER.
I'm thankful though. I could just imagine what other people are going through right now. I know the True Meaning of Christmas and I'm thankful for the Greatest Gift I could have ever gotten through Jesus! I also have a family who loves me and I'm going on a cruise in T minus 12 days, so there's nothing to complain about.
Anyways, I just thought I'd record this moment while I'm sitting here. Hopefully Dad will be OK soon. I'm going to go play Uno.
This post is inspired by a conversation with my dear friend Allison and the recent viewing of the classic "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen.
I watched this movie this weekend and went away feeling so good about life and Christmas and everything. It struck me that there are rarely any movies these days that can have that same effect on me. 75% of the movies out today are either trashy, inappropriate, riddled with f-bombs or so violent they leave your heart heavy. Why do I put myself through that? Also, I can't think of one movie made in the last 5 years that did not include premarital sex as part of the romantic story between two people (in my opinion, there's NOTHING romantic about sex with anyone other than your beloved and committed spouse). If you can name me one movie made recently that is set in present-day that does not include premarital sex or sexual references, I'll make you some cookies.
And on the topic of violence in films, I think I've become so desensitized to killing that I've found myself cheering for the protagonist when they finally kill their enemy. Now, I know we are not supposed to value evil in this world, but hoping for somebody to die is not necessarily right either. I know it's fiction, but I believe all of the things that we allow into our heads and hearts effect our attitudes and walk with God.
This also goes for language in films. I'm going to be completely honest and say that there have been times since I've been seriously walking with the Lord that I've let a word or two that don't honor God slip out when I've been really scared or something sudden happened or I was just downright frustrated. Those words are in my mind because I've let them in through the movies I've watched. Again, these "little" things can have a HUGE effect on my character.
I don't want to condone values that go against the Word of God. I'm not perfect either. Some of my favorite movies have these elements in them. Some films I love just because of the beauty in them- the cinematography, symbolism, the history or dialogue- which I sometimes use to justify watching despite their shady content. Sometimes I love movies because they have great quotes (The Sandlot, Elf, That Thing You Do, Mean Girls, etc).
Anyways, I'm finding that my movie tastes are changing as I'm losing more and more tolerance for the stuff that's out there. Some of my favorites are these old time movies that had real artists in them- they could act, sing, dance and be hilarious and incredibly romantic all at the same time! Go watch "White Christmas," "It's A Wonderful Life," "Rear Window," or even new movies like "Pride and Prejudice." You'll love them and have more of an appreciation of the Hollywood that deserves more respect than the current one. And feel free to pass on to me any good flicks that are truthful and worthy of watching, because there's always Someone watching us.
These are just my random and disconnected thoughts. What do you think?
