Silver Screen

Caroline and I don’t get to the movies very much, and we are pretty bad about getting one Netflix watch in per month.  It is not in our routine, but when we do go, we almost always enjoy ourselves.  I think the last movie we saw in the theater was Les Mis, and while we had seen it on stage several times, the movie provided a different experience in a couple of ways.  First, the cinematography was amazing and something that obviously can’t be recreated on stage.  Second, I loved being able to see close-ups of the actors as they sang.  My eyes aren’t great, and it is usually hard for me to see the faces of actors on stage.  For Les Mis, I was also amazed at how well the actors could sing, and I was told that they actually recorded the soundtrack as the film was being shot, not in a studio and then dubbed later.  I was impressed.  The themes of love, honor and mercy are timeless.  It’s no revelation that most  current movies spend a lot less time on timeless themes and a lot more time on thrills, suspense, violence and sex.  But I saw a review of the new movie, “Prisoners”, this morning.  I haven’t seen it yet, but after reading this review, I want to.  The film is about a child kidnapping and about all of the evil associated with something that gruesome, but it’s not just about the evil of the kidnappers.  Almost all of the main characters have some darkness that they are struggling with and apparently there are frequent references to God and his prevailing power and grace.  I am looking forward to seeing this one.  Let me know what films, recent or old, that you love.

Why Gen Y?

I don’t usually pay a lot of attention to generic FB shares.  I have been disappointed too many times by something labeled “you have to see this!!!!”.  I usually think fewer exclamation points would be appropriate.  But when somebody I love and respect says “interesting read”, I decided to take a look.  Thanks Emily.  This post talks about why the unrealized expectations of Gen Y yuppies are to blame for their unhappiness.  This is one of those things that you know is true, but it is presented so clearly and creatively that it crystalizes some pretty complex ideas.  I  look at my children and their spouses and hope that they have avoided some of  this trap, but know that it has most likely impacted them as Gen Y-er’s.  Take a look and let me know what you think.  Click here.

Art for the masses

When I was younger, I always wished I could draw better.  I felt like I had no natural skill in this area, and while I always wanted to know how to draw, I never really did anything to develop the skill.  I still have a desire to draw or paint, but no desire to commit to the energy that it would take to become competent.  Just lazy I guess.  The recent popularity of “painting bars”  have made it possible for you to show up at their location with a bottle of wine and a credit card and leave with a Rembrandt of sorts and a buzz.  My grown kids have participated.  I think I might be up for something like that, but I haven’t even gotten that far yet.    As a REALTOR, I do have good access to a nice camera, and I very much enjoy trying to get great photos for my clients.  This week, I was reminded of the original and most famous artist of all.  He is the one who painted this picture and allowed me the privilege of attempting to capture a much of  it as possible with the press of a button.  Our God is an awesome (and talented) God.

Serving

This month, the Corps of Engineers is partnering with the Lake Hartwell Association to clean up the lake.  Click here for more details.    I know that for me, serving seems to get pushed to the edges of my calendar.  Everything else seems to take priority.  Most of those items are either “work-related” or “recover from work-related”.  For the “work-related” items, I could try to build a case that I am “serving” my clients.  I think there is some truth to that, but the main reason I work is to make money to support the “recovery from work related” items.  My company, Keller Williams, offers regular opportunities for serving.  And my church, The Vine, also offers great opportunities to serve.  There are also frequent community oriented ways to serve like the Lake Hartwell clean-up campaign.  I try to take advantage of these opportunities when I can, but I am not sure I do enough.  There is one thing I do know for sure.  When I take the focus off of myself and place it on something or somebody else, my whole world seems to work better.