Inpsire Me

These days it feels like I need so much to be ignited. Where my passion once fueled my actions, routine has settled in. And its hard to garner passion once its lost. I don't have the time or the energy to reclaim what has been scattered across various social circles, priorities, and responsibilities. Life just feels too...normal.

But at the same time, God does not equal normalcy. I know life feels pretty routine and normal right now, but that's going to be shaken up this summer. God will break this heart, and I am praying He will. In fact I think he's already started. There were things that happened this weekend that allowed me to be stirred, basically in the form of two films.

The first film watched was "Heima" by Sigur Ros. I have only been truly listening to them for several months now, and I really gain a lot of peace and beauty from their music. The film was just the same. Ugly sides of life like to smash into me until I am battered and bruised. I equate fallenness with ugliness and think about the sinfulness of the world that sometimes I wonder what good is actually in it? This film really moved me. The combination of natural images and images of people combined with Sigur Ros' music makes me truly believe that life is beautiful. Sometimes I forget.

Heima Trailer


The second film I watched is entitled "The Agony and the Ecstasy," which stars Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison playing Michelangelo and the Pope. The narrative revolves around the painting of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo. Michelangelo, comfortable in the title of sculptor, does not feel capable and is barely willing to complete a painting on the ceiling of the Pope's church. He begins his task of painting frescoes, and comes to the realization that he does not want the public to experience art that does not inspire them to be closer to God. After a revelation, he paints God reaching out to man and completes the chapel.

The Agony & the Ecstasy

I analyzed this picture as it was on the screen, and I finally realized it. God is working so hard to reach man, while man simply lays on his side, barely lifting his arm. It made me think of God's passionate love for us. How often am I lazy within my relationship to him that I forget his awesome love for me?

This film is also inspiring in making one wonder how they will bring glory to God. For Michelangelo it was painting, but what is it for me? Perhaps I won't know, and that is okay.

The passage that I think of in regards to this is 1 Peter 4:10, which says, "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithuflly administering God's grace in its various forms."

I suppose my only option right now is to arise to whatever I am facing with a Christlike attitude and a child-like faith. And its okay if I don't know.