Jasmine

"Jazzmyn" says the nametag of the cashier at the Bagel place. Jazzmyn - a variation of Jasmine, I guess...

Several years ago I lived in a fire red house with a lush, green hedge around the yard. At some time every spring, I'd notice a vine grow among the hedge. And for years I would cut that vine off, try to uproot it, get rid of it. And every year it came back, tried to grow.

One year I went on a longer consulting gig. When I came back a few weeks later, the vine had started to bloom. Fine, delicate, white blossoms dotted the green hedge, like stars in the night sky! As I exited the car, I was engulfed in sweet, gentle fragrance...

Years later, I learned that this vine most likely was Jasmine.


Oh, if I could be more like my Jasmine: to continue to be nice, even when somebody cuts me back again and again; to be ready to bloom, even when I am misunderstood and not appreciated!

What else am I realizing through this memory? That I am ignorant - no matter how much I seem to know! That if I would focus less on what I think is right, less on what "I" want, but instead allow the magic to happen that is unfolding with, through and around me, my life would be much more enjoyable and amazing...


I hear you say: "Yes, but..." That's ok. These are the realizations and lessons I take away from this story. You can choose to learn from it what makes sense to you... Gone are the days of doctrine. Here is the time of sharing information, individual enlightenment and free will...


Well, there is the aire of kindness about Jazzmyn - kindness, which radiates out and touches the lives of all around - just like the fragrance of my Jasmine. The gentle and caring vibe of Jazzmyn might put a smile on people's faces around her - just like the flowers of my Jasmine might have touched the hearts of people passing by. I hope, that she will not loose her positive ways, even when she's subjected to ignorance and misunderstanding. Just like my Jasmine did not give up and eventually was able to bless the world with its fragrance and beauty...

Spiritual Movie Review: My Week With Marilyn

Synopsys
In the early summer of 1956, 23-year-old Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne) came down from Oxford determined to make his way in the film business. He worked as a lowly assistant on the set of The Prince and the Showgirl, the film that famously united Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) and Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine), who was also on honeymoon with her new husband, the playwright Arthur Miller (Dougray Scott). Nearly 40 years on, his diary account The Prince, the Showgirl and Me was published, but one week was missing and this was published some years later as My Week with Marilyn. This is the story of that week. When Arthur Miller leaves England, the coast is clear for Colin to introduce Marilyn to some of the pleasures of British life—an idyllic week in which he escorted a Monroe desperate to get away from her retinue of Hollywood hangers-on and the pressures of work. Simon Curtis' directorial debu also stars Judi Dench, Julia Ormond and Dominic Cooper.
(Synopsys from Landmark Theaters)

Our Thoughts
I went to the cinema to watch a different movie, however that was sold out. The only one left, that I hadn't seen, was "My Week With Marilyn". After watching it, I am glad the other one was sold out! This film is wonderfully entertaining, while still thought-provoking and insightful. Thematically, it allows the viewer to to experience what is going one behind the scenes when a movie is created. And it shows a Marilyn how she was in real life, not just how we are used to her from the characters she portrayed in the films.
Usually, when watching a film - just like when listening to and advising a friend - we tend to look at a situation from a person's perspective. How difficult life was for Marilyn. How hurt and out of balance Colin must have been. How disappointed Marilyn's third husband must have been. How stressful work was for Lawrence...

You can do just that, and you will enjoy the movie. I am sure.

However, you could also try to practice the "perspective of the Universe" approach, when watching it.

What contribution is each of the characters making to this creation? What skills and talents were required for a particular character to fulfill his role?

I think Marilyn clearly energized the world - both males and females. Both she and Lawrence, as well as the other actors, made a nice contribution to the creation by producing the film they were working on. It provided - and still provides - joy and fun for the viewers.

The lead-actors alone are not enough to make the film, but supporting actors are need, in real life it is similar. No matter how great a person, how influential, or admired: without the right supporting people around them, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish what they set out to to.

Behind all that glamour and smiles and sexiness, Marilyn apparently was a very troubled soul, in dire need of somebody kind enough to support her. Unfortunately, due to her exteriors and her fame, most people didn't see the real person but the idol - and consequently were not as efficient in helping her, as they might to have been needed to be.

In a way, the whole movie is full of examples of folks not being able to help well, because of their focus on what they can get out of it, rather than what they could contribute.

There are so many great lessons in this movie! Judy Dench's character - the positive example for how easy it could be to make a great contribution. Colin - following his dream. Marilyn's manager's advise to Lawrence. The attitude of Lawrence's wife to why her husband is working with Marilyn. And many, many more. One might think this film is not based on real people, but rather a condensed collection of "textbook examples" for various topics.

I think, for anybody who's trying the "perspective of the Universe" approach, this movie is a wonderful opportunity to practice.

If you watch it, maybe you'd like to share with us all what ideas and insights you took away from it? Please send a comment...

Enjoy!

Links
Landmark Theaters:
http://www.landmarktheaters.com/Films/films_frameset.asp?id=108176
Official Website:
http://myweekwithmarilynmovie.com/

He loves you this much...

The other day, I was driving eastbound on GA138 through Jonesboro Ga, when I noticed this billboard:





It made me very thoughtful.

Today, I'd like to focus on the little picture on the left side of the billboard. It shows Jesus on the cross, and its capture reads: “Jesus loved you this much.”

The story, in short, is this: there is a guy who is at loggerheads with the church establishment, so they get him to be crucified. The typical message about it is, that through his death on the cross, God has forgiven us the sin, which we inherited from Adam & Eve, and now allows us entry into the heavens.

Ok. So in other words, by us humans torturing his son to death, God is now so happy with us that he allows us to go to heaven? Or, God was so upset with us before, but now, since somebody died, God feels revenged and finally forgives us for what Adam and Eve have done – which is, they ate an apple from the one tree they were supposed to not touch. That the guy who died happened to have been his son, is a little detail on the side...

I don't know, but that all sounds quite weird to me.

How about this: This guy comes and tries to help us develop spiritually. He points out where we are going wrong, explains how old scriptures can be interpreted differently, and shows through his life how one can live differently and have a positive impact on humans and the world. The religious leaders at that time, the Pharisees, are so set in their ways and view-points, that they decide to get rid of him. Luckily for them, the romans were quite sensitive about potential rebellions, so they were easily coaxed into performing the dirty job.

Hm. There is nothing mystic about this way of telling the story. One doesn't have to be a “Christian” to still be able to accept the content, as it is closer to the objectively researchable facts. It's not quite the way the story is being told to us in church. However, one can see how this could really have happen.

Well, if we look at it this way, obviously, Jesus on the Cross is not so much a statement about how much he loves us, but more about how much we hate him. It could be a reminder to us, that fundamentalist interpretations and approaches lead to disaster. That when we are closed-minded, judgmental and ignorant we are very destructive.
Suddenly, just by looking at it in a new way, we immediately receive actionable, relevant messages; we are given the opportunity to grow, to improve, to learn...

Let me go a little further. Let's suppose, Jesus were be born again today.
Would I be one of his opponents, demanding his removal, or would I be one of his followers, seeing the light, understanding the messages?
2000 years ago, he was having discussions with the Pharisees. With whom would he have discussions today?
Then, he was standing up for Maria Magdalene. People were about to stone her to death for not abiding to their religious morality. Who would he stand up for today? Who do we torture, scold and outcast, because they do not fit our religious believes, our interpretations of our spiritual scriptures?
Would it be easier or safer for him to do today, what he did then?

Or is Kris Kristofferson's assessment accurate, when he sings in his song Jesus was a Capricorn: “... reckon they'd just nail him up, if he comes down again!”

So why do I think that this is a good example for a jigsaw Puzzle piece, that needs to be quarantined?
I think, looking at the story from a different angle, allows us to ask different questions. Questions lead to answers, and answers lead to deeper understanding and wisdom.
The crucification can be a constant, grim reminder of how narrow-minded, resistant to change, and self righteous we are, especially when it comes to religion. I think, “This is what we do when we hate!” might have been a sentence, that could have helped the passing people to re-evaluate their attitude and behavior. It could have inspired people to be more loving, and less hateful, more tolerant and less judgmental...

My review of this Jigsaw Puzzle piece has helped me to see a whole new picture, where before there was only an empty, rather meaningless template. It helped me grow spiritually. My goal for this website is to foster spiritual growth and renewal by suggesting new pieces for your puzzle, and by revisiting existing pieces...