I feel so redundant saying this, but yes, I have been terrible and keeping up with my blogs. Life shouldn't get in the way of something you love and are passionate about. It is important to remind yourself of what is important in life and to make sure you fulfill your life with those things on a daily basis. I need to make a point of writing on my blogs the moment I put my little one to sleep if I haven't already written for the day!
Back to business - I wanted to discuss the film Mrs. Dalloway, based on the book by Virginia Woolf. I am not here to criticize the book, the film or the author at all but to give commentary on one small (literally a minute or two of screen time) scene from the film with Mrs. Dalloway, her daughter and a family friend. Her daughter mentions leaving with the friend due to an interest in converting to Christianity. Mrs. Dalloway remarks that religious fanatics are converting everyone.
The whole of the scene is that Mrs. Dalloway ends up making her daughter feel guilt and disappointment for even thinking of converting. I find this extremely hypocritical. Just as Mrs. Dalloway suggests that Christians are out to convert everyone, is she not out to convert others against Christianity??? Her daughter does not seem to be a wreck, or disillusioned, nor did she seem to express immediate need to become Christian. My understanding was that she had an interest in learning more about Christianity. Whether or not you believe something, a wonderful first step is educating yourself on any subject. Discouraging anyone from learning while pitting them against that same subject has a lot to do with major problems in the world.
Wars are fought and children are born into families that oppose this country or that country as a result, without the child even being old enough to know what the war was about or why they hate any particular country! I am not sure what the comparison is from the book to the film for that scene but am eagerly looking to borrow Mrs. Dalloway from the library to compare. It is suggested that Mrs. Dalloway is gay and it is not disclosed as to whether this is her reason for being against Christianity but I believe that is the implication and I find it rather small minded, as well.
There is a large misconception that Christianity means you're preppy, you're perfect, you don't swear, you don't do wrong, you never do anything illegal, you are not gay, you have never been convicted, I could go on but I'm sure you get the point. We forget that Christians, no matter what their faults, strive to be like Jesus each day of their lives. If you really blow it at 2pm on a Friday, then at 2:01pm on that same day you pray for forgiveness and continue to be like Christ without ever giving up. We are human and many of us have experienced wrong doing but that does not mean you are unaccepted. When you open your heart to God, when you trust him, when you serve him and when you build your relationship with him, He is there for you without a doubt.
Maybe you are reading this and thinking, "Man, she's not going to convince me. This is such bullshit. *laughs* Have fun in la-la land!!" You have every right to think, or say that. You may not want to accept it but if you feel that way God is still God, he still loves you and I will still pray for you. When a Christian discusses their faith, they are not out to convince or trick anyone. I am sharing my experience and thoughts with you and my only hope is that you listen. Remember, because you have one view, as Mrs. Dalloway did, you do not have to judge others for their attempts at educating themselves. The most hypocritical part about Mrs. Dalloway's situation is that her story is one of great tragedy. She was gay and knew better than anyone what it was to be judged, so why should she impose judgement on her own daughter?
A Christian giving testimony is a free lesson in what God can provide. Many people have a hard time listening to Christian testimony, perhaps because they feel like they are being trapped and tricked into believing. That feeling is fear, fear of believing in something you can't fully explain, fear of trusting something you can't see, hear or touch the way you can another person, fear of opening your mind. That's right, you are not shutting down and "following the crowd" by accepting our Father! You know why?! Because accepting God has nothing to do with "but everyone's doing that" or "this is 2011!" I have never felt more sure of myself or more at ease than the day I became Christian.
I recently read Maryland by Loree Lough and in it there's a discussion between two characters, one a believer, one not. The non-believer suggests that science provides logical answers, but the believer reminds him that science is playing it safe because science does not allow you to believe the impossible.
Believe the impossible. What a gift.
