Eat, Pray, Love

While I was on the airplane crossing the Atlantic Ocean I watched Julia Roberts in the movie "Eat, Pray, Love." It was a very good movie. I was especially touched by the scene where Roberts is feeling lost and decides to go in the other room to pray to God for direction. She says;

"Hello God, nice to finally meet you. I am a big fan of your work. Sorry I've never spoken directly to you but I hope I've expressed my ample gratitude for all the blessings I've had.

Lord, I'm in serious trouble. I don't know what to do. Tell me what to do and I'll do it. "

It was a very poignant scene that probably speaks to many people's experience in the world. They don't know how to talk to God. All they've ever learned were a few formal prayers and never felt like they could actually talk to a personal God who really cared about them and could make a difference in their lives. I think most people want to believe but the idea of a relevant, personal God just seems to good to be true.

At the end of the movie you get the sense that Roberts has had a spiritual experience. She has found God's plan for her life. The truth is that all of us are on a journey of self discovery as well as spiritual awareness. God seems ethereal and out at the beginning but somewhere along the way we encounter the living, breathing God who is just waiting for us to invite him to walk alongside of us through life. When that happens everything changes and life comes together in a meaningful way.

Eat, Pray, Love is probably considered a "chick flick" but I saw it more as a movie that touches the thin place where life and spirit touch. If you haven't seen it, rent the movie and let me know what you think. Peace.

Cal

Give a gift from the heart

What are you carrying? Imagine if you only had one suitcase and you had to put your most prized possessions in it. What would you pack? A lot of us collect as lot of things in life. I am not just talking about material objects. Some of us carry relationships around with us. Some of us carry past experiences on our backs. I know people who are weighted down with failures. Others lift high all their achievements so everyone else can see them.

The truth is that most of these things won't really matter when our life draws to a close. The most important things are not things at all. They are the people who we shared our lives with. This Christmas season, I want to encourage you to take time and tell the people who mean a lot to you just how much you value their friendship, their love, their place in your lives. It will be the besat gift you can give them.

Peace.

Cal