7 quick takes: Lent n Stuff

one

I don't want to see the new Jesus movie. Matt made me watch the trailer yesterday and I had to retreat behind a book, trying to shield myself from yet another roguish, arrogant, Captain Jack Sparrow-ish, English accented, western Jesus whose sappy line delivery and long overly meaningful gazes make me want to become an atheist. Why? I ask every time, does Jesus have to be like this on the big screen? Why? Oh Why? And why all the English accents? Why not film it in Aremaic and Greek and do subtitles or something? Better yet, why not just not do it. Anyone trying to play act God on a screen is going to come off as inauthentic and arrogant because there's nothing to grasp on to. Jesus was perfect. It's easy, I imagine, to play a murderer, because I've got a little of that buried somewhere down deep. Or a mob boss. Or any other broken human interesting character. But Jesus? Every Jesus I've seen is so one dimensional and horrid. Of course, I didn't see The Passion of the Christ and I'm not going to, so I won't make a huge generalization. Every Jesus Movie that I've seen has been awful.

two

Rediscovered an excellent line again yesterday in Black Lamb Grey Falcon. West, laboriously describing Diocletian's retirement palace in Split and it's history, writes “It would be as frivolous to object to the adaptations the children of the palace have made to live as it would be to regret that a woman who has reared a large and glorious family has lost her girlish appearance.”

Of course! How sensible! No one should object to a woman losing her figure anyway, but most especially for children. But I think there is some sort of objection. Me, I object, and I'm sure I object because the culture objects (I blame the culture, or satan, it has to be someone else's fault). The fact that something so “obvious” is a surprise and help to me, I think, shows a culturual value gone tragically awry.

three

If you're not Facebook friends with me you should friend me just so you can read the Big Spoon thread. The big spoon at church went missing and I fussed about it for a long time on Facebook. If you long for soup related puns and need a solid laugh on this cold day, friend me and read the thread. Here are three big spoons, finally discovered.

four

I'm grateful that my life is so boring that the most traumatizing thing to happen all week is the losing of the big spoon. I think I want exciting things to happen in my life but I really don't. Really, I'm very happy when things are very ordinary and boring. Too bad it's all about to end as Lent is riding in like a ton of bricks.

five

I do like lent, I do. As Matt said, “Oh great, the season of hell is down our throats.”

“Season of hell?” I raised one eyebrow.

“I mean holiness, the season of holy stuff,” he said.

But it is a little bit of both, isn't it. Trying to be holy. Failing. Discovering again that there's a whole lot of hell rooted deep down in there that needs to be torn out, sin by sin. Feeling discouraged. Having to cry out to Jesus. Being so grateful for Easter when it finally comes. It's nearly here. Guess I should think about it.

six

But boy, do I know what the children will be giving up this year. 1. whining 2. all minecraft all the time, they'll have to have some kind of fast, though not a total one and 3. the really bad February attitudes. I guess I should try to give up profanity again this year. Hate failing on day one though. Sob.

seven

Maybe I could threaten myself with the Jesus movie. Every time I let a foul word pass my guilty lips I could force myself to watch another weird Jesus movie as penance. Or something.

Have a great Friday and go check out Jen!