Wednesday, March 02, 2005

finding neverland

Saw Finding Neverland last night. Has this beginning of the 20th century setting in high society London. Its strange to watch a whole class of people which just walk around parks all day, but I suppose that was really what happened then. But we have to be careful not to confuse the FOP owners with the artists, creative people and so on. Only thing is that for us such high class no-need-to-work people nowadays have some artificial semblence of "working" with some honourary job description or do their walking around in private clubs, spas and golf courses instead of Bishan Park. Or drive around in their irritating SUVs all day.

The story is beautiful though. Moved to tears. Can see the 'stiff upper lip' societal pressures brought to bear, and indeed, Depp's child-like ignorance of it all suits the spirit of his character so starkly. Good thing crass comic relief was used to a minimum - and maybe there was a little hint of Depp as a social mover inserted into the story.

I feel that a work of fiction like a movie has meaning when it portrays struggle. Meaningful human struggle that goes on - the dramatic action or the spirit of the character being brought to bear on the audience. It depends on great actors, but also purposeful casting and directing of all the elements of the movie as well. Too much distractions, digressions, use of slapstick, action, special effects, confuse or dilute the message if not done carefully.

Especially at the end, when the sick mother gets to see the play in her house and walks into Neverland, its so sweet and surreal and her children & Depp just keep looking on... and its so beautiful on one hand and on the other so sad because you know she's actually dying... you know that she's dying but its so beautiful you want to cry out no! she isn't dying! I don't want to believe she's dying! But for her, dying was not the end because she believed.

It's hard to believe in something you can't literally see or feel or touch, and its not that I would enjoy watching people succumb helplessly to TB all the time, but troubled times and trying situations for one thing, drive the message of the temporal nature of this world and physical existence very succinctly.

"Its just that their health-care's not good enough" you say. I thank God for improved healthcare now, but the fact is, we all have to die someday anytime, and what's more, I think we'd probably die of guilt or weariness or pointlessness or overconsumption if our lifespan lasted forever.

To put it another way, wouldn't life be meaningless if all we had to do was to hang around the earth for eternity? Africa would always be poor, we'd be making reasons for fighting and killing each other all the time, we'd have pangs of guilt looking at poverty till we go numb, the PAP will keep asking you to retrain and upgrade your skills because there's always competition, there'd be no retirement age because no amount of CPF could ever sustain a retiree for eternity, you'd always be jealous of people who are in better circumstances, you'd wonder why freak accidents happen, your body would be so decayed you'd need a plastic one (think Darth Vader) and so on.

Someone remarked to me online yesterday.

"You dream of heaven every night don't you?"

Well folks,
I do dream of heaven all the time. In fact, I'd want to keep thoughts of heaven at the back of my head at every waking moment. But its not the same as going about the world in a daze and pretending I don't exist on earth. I do. But I know that there's a better place awaiting. And yes, all things that take place and are done on earth, should be taken in light of our final destination in heaven.

In a sense, like a neverland, only better. And no SUVs.

Such is the hope in Christ that we share, and I sympathize with all my friends who read this now and yet still have not found that direction and certainty in life that all human souls truly seek, if only we would admit it to ourselves.

“ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. ”- 2 Corinthians 5:19 and 20

You know how to reach me if you'd like to understand more.

"Hark! The herald angels sing! Glory to the newborn king!"

May God bless and keep us always.

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