Brad Pitt, the Prophet

I don't read about celebrities very much, but a recent article in Parade magazine highlighted the current life and times of Brad Pitt. I do think he is a great actor. He has an unfair advantage though because he has a big head, anatomically I mean. Just look at it sometime along with the head sizes of many famous actors. Perhaps a big head is needed to hold the big head they get from all the attention. The head first begins to grow with fame, then really swells when people seek an actor's life philosophy, just because they are famous.

Anyway, if a magazine article's title is intriguing enough, I might proceed to the next level of interest - reading the captions over any pictures the article might include. The article's pictures are what reminded me of his head. In addition to the pictures, The Parade article had a section about Brad Pitt's spiritual journey.

Pitt said he had attended a Christian church and had a sincere emotional experience. Some time later, he was attending a concert and realized that the music produced the same emotions he had felt in church. This disappointed him because he thought he had a unique religious experience. Now he was confused. Was the church experience divine or relegated to just evoking intense, but real humans emotions? He stopped short of reconciling the conflict and moved on.

I think many of us have had similar experiences. This is why what we are feeling is not a good litmus test to determine if we are listing to Memorex or to just a copy. So if we can't rely on our feelings, what can we rely on if we are diligent pursuers of the truth?

I think we have to look entirely at what Jesus said, apart from what we are feeling or experiencing around us. Jesus claimed to be "The Truth" and validated His claim by doing exactly what He said he would do - die and then rise again. Jesus is trustworthy and we are not. Emotions are a good thing and can enhance our experiences. But emotions are an unreliable determiner of the truth.

I hope Brad Pitt doesn't totally give up on his search. Jesus said He rewards seekers of truth and will protect them from deception. The only thing He won't interfere with is self-deception. Cling to, trust in, and rely upon what He says and don't fool yourself.

Then you can truly enjoy the music.

Painting Another's Painting

Sorry, that's the best title I could think of. Email your suggestion after reading the blog if you dare!?

Designing your own home and then watching someone else build it makes me ponder what it might be like being a playwright. You have just written this entirely unique and deeply personal play. Yet, the public will never see your work-product unless you relinquish control of the script into the hands of others. You must find a good builder (or director) and the director and others assemble and guide the cast (subcontractors and laborers).

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As you sit there at rehearsals, you hope and pray that the trustees of your creation interpret your vision as close to what you had in mind as humanly possible. It is very exciting when they finally sense your vision and not only adhere to the script but also insert their own personality in a synergistic way. The collaboration results in much better critical acclaim than if they were merely reciters.

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Dave Matthews, founder and leader of the Dave Matthew's Band (that's original), once said in an interview that he lets each musician in his band play their individual instrument any way they want. They can come in and out at will, improvise and be creative in their area of expertise. They only thing they have to adhere to strictly is the lyrics. That gave way to individual expression and allowed great musicality and freedom of expression. But the meaning of the piece was not lost in the chaos if they stuck to the words. How does this relate to home building? Not very well I guess, I just wanted you to know that I liked his band.

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All through his career, Alfred Hitchcock, the acclaimed director, required strict adherence to the script even though the actors could use whatever method they wanted to get the lines out. He remained this way right up to perhaps his last movie (maybe I'll remember the name by the end of the blog). In his last film, he allowed a great deal (a lot) of ad libbing. The end result, in my opinion, was like a long running inside joke where the actors were almost winking at the camera and each other. As a result, the strong story line suffered.

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So at what point does the home builder/playwright insist upon strict adherence to the script/plans (do rhetorical question sentences need a question mark?)? The point when you look down the road and realize that you will really regret it if you don't interrupt the rehearsal and try to get the painters you have hired back on track in painting your own portrait.

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The point is, it's fun seeing your creation come to life but a little scary too. After all, they will sign their painting with your name and then send you the bill.

None but the Brave

When we think of the word bravery, the most common mental depiction is associated with the kind of action that results in the award of a medal or a public citation of some kind. This is not the kind of bravery I plan to discuss here. Rest assured that I am not talking about myself, but rather, a state of mind that I really want to achieve. I can write about bravery because I have role models, you can't hurt me physically, and, it's my blog anyway.

Medal bravery is that unconscious, spontaneous response to a severe situation in which an ordinary person performs extraordinarily, often at great personal risk, for the life saving benefit of others. The act is even more significant when performed by a layman just going through life when, all of a sudden, he is caught up in great tragedy. Quite often when these people are lauded for their acts of bravely, they accept the recognition with modesty, even a little guilt, because they didn't really think about it, they just acted.

The bravery I am talking about is the kind where you have to think about things and then act. This is a very different character trait, and the one I most admire. Let me 'splane, and I'll use small words.

Virtually no one's life turns out how they expect it to. I'm not sure where we get the picture of what our life is supposed to look like, but I've never heard anyone say, "What a life, it's exactly as I pictured it!" The most unexpected and least wanted turn of events is when injury and chronic pain come into your life, physical or mental, and often times both. The bravery I really admire is where people have to think about the day and times ahead and can visualize the difficulty. However, they bravely face the future and are role models of about every spiritual fruit I can recite.

These people, if they're brave, know tomorrow it's going to hurt, yet they face it anyway. Day after day, step after step is taken, knowing that things may never be better for them, yet they find a way to live an exemplary life. Maybe some of the bravery is muted by simply not trying to get ahead of themselves. Jesus tells us not to fret about tomorrow, it's tough enough today. Maybe no one can withstand the agony of mentally running through every possible scenario and still being able to function. But even if they have a glimpse of the potential difficulty, they act nobly, and this takes guts in my opinion.

These people should be given a medal. They are my heroes.

"O perfect life, be Thou their full assurance of tender charity and steadfast faith, of patient hope, and quite, brave endurance, with child-like trust that fears nor pain nor death."

From the Hymn "O Perfect Love" - Dorothy Gurney 1932