Taking a point from Walker Lemons over at 1001 Rules for my Unborn Son I went to the movies by myself (160) to see Life of Pi. I never read the book and I feel that just added to the experience for me. I always enjoy seeing a movie that even after 2 hours of sitting makes me feel that I need to sit down and think about it. Now you get to pay Tue price of me thinking about it:
It has been a while since I have seen such an artful film. I also am not a huge fan of 3D; I tend to feel like it is being thrown in my face and is gimmicky. This was not gimmicky. The art of the scenery whether meant for 3D or not were beautiful. The story was beautifully told. It was about the beauty of life and that part of that is pain.
Like the tiger beauty is both awe-inspiring and terrifying. It is a true sign of art to show us something both beautiful and fear inducing. This is what we see in ourselves. We can use our pain. It transforms us. That is the nature of beauty to resonate with the soul and cause it to swell and grow. Truth is contained within it and the truth is terrible. It makes us cringe. We hide from truth because while it may set us free it is an all exposing light. We see everything and we don't always want to see what was hidden. "He brought the evil out of me!" As I heard Pi scream that the tears welled up. Into the deep within the magnificence of exposing ones weakness shone onto pain and joy. Joy at life! But how painful is life! Life is growth and growth is painful. The light of truth alone can expose the weakness as strength, that to be great we must be small, to be beautiful we will be terrifying.
On this day as my brothers and sisters March for Life in our nations capital my prayers are with them. Recognizing the magnificent beauty of life but the terrifying truth of what it ,means to fight for it. No news will recognize you. You will be treated as monsters. But remain beautiful and terrifying and most importantly love the ones who will hate you for it. Because only that kind of truth can inspire loving honest dialog.
There are foolish reactive people on both sides of such arguments that would tear at each other until there is nothing left just as there are good people. We are the ones who refuse to look beauty in its fierce eyes. It is Like a flame, that hot harsh nurturing thing that we dare not touch but desperately need in darkness. An issue such as this is one that requires love in the resolution. I have no doubt of the love that exists on both sides of an argument and thus I have no doubt in the goodness of the men and women of both sides. Only by being truthful, beautiful, and terrifying can we all be carried through such storms. The tiger will keep us alive
