Les Miserables

WOW WOW WOW what an EPIC movie. I can quite easily say this movie has changed my life and that doesn't happen very often yes God speaks but it has changed the way I look at the world. My prayer that the heart God gave me for the world will last past the Oscars!
I saw the musical when I was sixteen it has always been my favourite musical I've sung the songs from it al my life yet I had no clue of the depth of the profound message of this story.  I even saw a film version without the music two years ago during my counselling school and understood it was about law and grace I even wrote an essay on it.
Yet noting compared me for the emotional battering I received last night for the way my heart felt as it watched the utter despair torment and pain that people were going through. How could I ever complain about my life again. Thank God that in this country conditions are no where near as bad as they used to be but I have to understand that in some parts of the world there are people who receive the same kind of exploitation. After the movie my kind heavenly father explained to me that the reason I cried from beginning to end throughout the movie apart from the odd funny bit when I was still appalled at what they were poking fun at was that he was giving me his heart. I received God's heart for the world during the movie something I was not expecting because there were moments when I felt in agony I could feel the pain of the people and of course they were not real although I am sure people had similar stories in history. God feels the pain of people and he wants us to some degree to feel this that we might be moved with his heart to make a difference.

Now there is hope and despite all the extremely terrible events from Fantine's exiling to the French revolution at the barricades. I was absolutely blown away by the story of the transformation of Jean Valjean. He becomes a Christian repents turns his back on his past and starts a completely new life clearly with Christ. When we see him again he is running a business and providing accommodation and jobs for many who otherwise would be on the streets.  His beautiful acts of kindness continue throughout the movie as he practically adopts Fantine's daughter by the point Fantine dies it appears he has shared the gospel with her. Just his love is so unbelievingly challenging I felt like I was watching a Sunday morning sermon it was that powerful. Jean Valjean clearly has understood that he can make a difference in life and has become mayor he knows that he is God's son with position and a role to play.  The grace shown to him from the clergy man has produced beautiful fruit in his life. This man after receiving grace lives his whole life by grace.

This is opposed to Javert who is a religious man who lives by Law which produces judgement and pride and ultimately destroys as that is what religion and the law do if not accompanied with grace and Love. Javert cannot understand forgiveness or grace and his religious spirit kills him quite literally.  I was reminded that we must let things go the offences we hold against people because ultimately they will kill us.

I was impacted by the relationship that Jean Valjean has with God all the way through the musical yes in song but these are the crys of a man who knows his God and knows that he can do miracles as he does when he rescues Marius from the barricades. As a friend mentioned to me tonight Marius is the only to come through and to a new life but first he has to go through all the slush it is almost like Marius as a rebirth.  As I looked at the sewers I saw a picture of our sin and the fact that like ValJean God would come through the sewers with us because he loves us so much.
If you don't get the Christian content of the film the ideas of Law and grace and Valjean's evident relationship with God and even the scenes of heaven at the beginning and end it would be easy to think that this is quite a sad and miserable film but there are glimpses of hope all the way through just like in life. Even the sadness that we see can spur us on to ensure that those who God sends our way do not live the same misery. For me this film was an affirming of my calling and an encouragement that like Valjean with God all things are possible and that we can be healed from all the wars we go through!
I absolutely loved this movie I believe it was life transforming I am still reminded of it now I think there is a lot more to say and I am sure as the days go on God will continue to speak to me about it and as I see it again perhaps more revelation will come.

Life of Pi Part two

Recently I went to see Life of Pi for the second time last night and I have decided that the cinematography is  spectacular with or without 3D. This time I saw the pluralistic out look of the author however I believe that you can see and hear God through absolutely anything so why even not through other religions to some extent.  I want to make it very clear though that I do not believe that all roads lead to the same God or that salvation can come through any god ot thing. In fact many of the practices of these other religions are very demonic and this is evidenced by the fruit they produce.
Saying all this though the journey that Pi goes on as a very young boy which brings him into contact with many gods including Jesus Christ the True God is very beautiful and one can see his heart he really does want to know God and please him.
It is funny how the Tiger could so often kill Pi put each time Pi escapes or the Tiger simply decides that he can't be bothered. We see the mercy of the Tiger time and again.  Here I believe we see the wrath of God but at the same time his mercy and his grace towards Pi.

I love this quote my friend put on Facebook 

Pi Patel: "Faith is a house with many rooms."
Writer: "But no room for doubt?"
Pi Patel: "Oh plenty, on every floor. Doubt is useful, it keeps faith a living thing. After all, you cannot know the strength of your faith until it is tested."
- Life of Pi

The sad fact is that Pi never really chooses a path believing that all paths lead to the same God but he does accept Jesus and is intrigued in following him but he still seems quite religious. I felt spoken to by the holy spirit as my heart was prompted by various bits of the film the immense beauty of creation at times and the incredibleness of nature especially the flying fish scene which I loved and thought doesn't God have a sense of humour.

The last line goes something like this 
Pi:   Which story do you prefer?
Writer:  The one with the Tiger!
Pi: And so it goes with God

So what I got from this phrase the second time I saw it certainly that there are not many roads of course one could take it to mean this but actually that every person's walk with God is individual and even that a person's relationship with God can be as wild as the story Pi tells of the animals.

Life of Pi Part 1

I am going to start my first blog about Life of Pi which I saw a few days ago.  I only saw it in 2D and so I focused much more on the story and the symbolic imagery and undercurrents of the movie instead of the cinematography. Although I have to say even in 2D was quite spectacular. I now feel I need to see it in 3D to get what all my friends are talking about. Saying all this I did love the movie. I found it reminiscent of castaway which I found quite dull and boring. Life of Pi though had so many deep spiritual moments that although were not directly exclusively Christianity or about Jesus were great opportunities for the Holy Spirit to speak. It is true that there is a lot of pluralism in the film but young Pi is desperate to find his God and this is true of all of us. I believe that to some degree there on the ocean he found him. 
There are many moments of wisdom in the film his father says to him round the dinner table if you believe in everything then you will believe in nothing.

As Pi starts his journey and his adventure it is clear that there is someone keeping him alive his father God providing everything that he needs and for those of us who are in a relationship with Jesus this is our experience that our father provides what we need when we need it. One of the most comical moments is when Pi is moaning about how he has nothing to eat and at that moment he is literally bombarded with flying fish who put on an incredible show of elegance at the same time as providing dinner for Pi and his tiger friend Richard Parker.  It reminds me of when God provides dinner from heaven in the Exodus and Manna appears everywhere and even the sense of humour of our God.

Then there is the cinematography especially the jellyfish scene which on one hand is extremely ridiculous how that young lad never dies I will never know but then it was a movie and not a true story. Anyway this scene was beautiful and it is how I imagine heaven to be in some way more beautiful of course but for me it was like a glimpse into the spiritual realm of colour.  I often think of these hidden places on earth having like spiritual value in some way almost as if there was a cross over between what is physical and what is spiritual of course we know that is true but in a physical way.

One of the most touching scenes is when Pi talks to Richard Parker about the fact they are both dying and he rests the now defenceless animal on his lap and they both fall asleep and despite the fact that we know they are both going to make it the scene is very emotive and moving I shed a tear I have to confess.

The allegorical story which is explained at the end which we are never sure which is the truth it is up to us to decide 
My favourite quote of the film is when he writes in his diary "The fear of the tiger kept me alive and gave me purpose for living."
It is God or even the Tiger which gives Pi strength to carry on going.  The Tiger even draws the faith out of Pi in fact he in some ways shows him that within him he has all he needs to survive and it is with us that within Jesus we have all we need to not only survive but over come.
Towards the end of the movie when Pi is washed up on the shores of mexico and Richard Parker the Tiger disappears into the Jungle without turning around and Pi is very upset that he doesn't say goodbye after all they have been though together.
It reminds me of when Jesus it there one minute and gone the next he doesn't stick around he explains to the disciples that the one who is coming after me will be able to help you and not only you but many more of course he is talking about the Holy Spirit.  Jesus couldn't be there in person anymore but now he was there in spirit.
For me that is the same with the Tiger, the Tiger represents God in the movie or faith in God we need to have a healthy fear of God and feed our faith for him. That reverence is what keep us alive setting us apart for a life of purpose. Despite the power of the tiger or of God he came as Jesus and was willing to show fragility just as the Tiger does. Our God shows vulnerability yet power and strength at the same time.

At the end of the movie the writer suggests that Pi is the Tiger and you could come to that conclusion but for me it is so much deeper. It is rather Pi has to become the Tiger just as we have to become Jesus or even God to others not in a arrogant way but in a loving compassionate way we become the message.

And so it is with God - It is our opportunity to choose faith but also a relationship with God is subjective and God is not scared of that it isn't meant to be a set of rules but rather a journey of love and exploration which is what this movie is in many ways

There is still much I didnot get the first time so think I will be going back to see what it is like in 3D and what else God shows me :)