INVICTUS: Video Review

Invictus Review from Paul Jensen on Vimeo.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE FINISH LINE, IT'S ABOUT THE RACE

I have been struggling lately with feelings of frustration. Frustration about my job and what seems to be a lack of progress toward my goals. When I look around and talk to people around me I see that I'm not alone.  I believe this is one of the biggest reasons people find themselves on antidepressants. This is not from any scientific studies just my gut feelings. Why should it be like that? Why should some people find themselves satisfied in life, achieving their goals and content, while others are tormented by dreams that seem o be unattainable, and tortured by going to jobs they hate. I have read many books and talked to many different people, and I have decided that the problem is that we tend to live for the finish line and not for the race.

What does that mean? Well, I'm going to talk about my own life since I know that story. I've often found myself in states of deep depression when I would look at my life and see that I had fallen short of my POTENTIAL. Potential, what a discouraging concept when you don't look at it with a healthy perspective. Potential can seem to be taunting and mocking you. The taunts usually go something like this:

“Look at you. You think you are so talented, but here you are working 9 to 5 in a dead end job. You think that you're a writer, yet here you are.”

I have found that the taunting and mocking is merely a result of screwed up thinking on my part. I have my goals and my dreams, but when I don't see them coming to pass I get depressed, and begin wallow in puddles of self-pity.

I am not saying that there is a problem with having the goals. Motivational speakers always tell you write down your goals. I still agree with that, but there is more to it than just that. In all fairness to motivational speakers most don't stop there they do include the rest of the story but I always walked away with the idea to write the goals and I missed the rest, maybe that's just the ADD kicking in.

What's missing is the reason that the goal was set in the first place. If had just decided that I wanted to be a writer because I thought it was cool, then I would lack the motivation to do what is required to become a writer. (writing) I decided to become a writer because I love to write. Therefore when I set my goal to become a writer, it is implied that I must write. I love to write. I believe I am good at it, and have been told as much by others as well as by my results in contests.

Where the problem lies is here. When I focus on the finish line as the thing I want, then I assess myself and see that I'm not there, meaning I have not a published book, then I feel discouraged. If I can focus on writing as my goal, then I can enjoy the process of accomplishing my goal.

This is why when someone sets a goal to be a millionaire they will undoubtedly fail unless they can envision a path that they enjoy on the way to the goal. I have known some people who at some point in life decided to lose weight. As part of the process they began to run or swim or ride bikes. They began to enjoy the exercise so much they eventually competed in triathlons.  They first had realize that they enjoyed the process before they ever ran the race.  If they had decided they wanted to complete in a triathlon but did not enjoy the work involved they never would have crossed the finished line.

So, I have resolved to try to always remember that the reason I want to get a book published is because I love to write, I love to create and I love to tell a story. When I remember this I can enjoy race all the way to the finish line.

It is not about the finish line, it is about the race.

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

This is a trailer for full length film that will be released later this year. I think this clip speaks volumes about our faith.


Also check out their website at http://www.i-heart.org/

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE review

I have found another film worth reviewing. I avoided this one for quite awhile, because I hate going to movies that get this kind of a gushing love fest in the media. Movies seldom live up to the hype of the “Golden Calf” that is created in the media to worship it.

I have finally gone to see Slumdog Millionaire, twice in one week.

This movie captivated me from the opening scene. It is refreshing to see a movie that does not rely on a $60 million dollar budget for just a few big name, overrated and talentless pretty faces to attract people to the box office. Director, Danny Boyle has a knack for creating movies in almost any genre that grab and interest the audience on “Indie” sized budgets. This one had a budget of only $15 million.

Slumdog Millionaire, is the story of a young man who grew up without parents in the slums of Mumbai and Bombay and ends up getting on the Indian version of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire”. I will not give any more of the story away than that.

Boyle and screenwriter, Simon Beaufoy, illustrate the triumph of love over selfishness and greed. The films locations are amazing, captivating, depressing and scary all at the same time. The music is both foreign and familiar and deserves the Oscar nominations it has received. The actors are all incredible and Boyle has masterfully directed them in this movie. The film oscillates between brutality and tenderness, greed and selflessness, hatred and love in a give and take manner that keeps you engaged throughout.

The religious imagery throughout the film is fodder for much thought and discussion, that I won't go into now, but I will probably revisit down the road sometime after the DVD is released.

For now, if you haven't seen this film yet, make sure you catch it in the theater before its gone, at least once. If you've seen it once see it again, there is so much to unlock in this piece.

Raise your hand if you know the answer

Here is another clip of Peter Rollins from the website www.theworkofthepeople.com So do you think you have it figured out?



Checkout Peter's blog at www.peterrollins.net

HOW TO BE IRRELEVANT or DOGMA FOR FUN AND PROFIT

As we are about enter a new era of American Life we stand at a crossroads. The political climate is poised on a precipice and we have a choice to make. Do we practice politics as usual or do we transform our methods.

Over the last 16 years we've seen incredible schisms in our culture in the arenas of politics and religion. During the administration of President Clinton the political and religious Right distinguished itself by opposing everything he tried to do and searching and waiting for any little reason to blast him and in the end impeach him. In this way they became mostly irrelevant. During the administration of President Bush the Left took over that job and likewise rendered themselves ineffective and irrelevant by opposing any and every move he made.

Today we stand at the precipice of a new and historic time in our country. On Tuesday we will inaugurate the first African-American President in our nations history. Barack Obama will make history no matter what he does. Will the Right again choose dogma over effectiveness?

There have been two Christian men, one from the Right the other from the Left, over the last several years who have managed to live very relevant lives. Billy Graham has been one of the most prominent voices of conservative Christianity for more than half a century. During that time he has been friends with every President, Republican or Democrat. He has not added his voice to chorus of rants from other Christians and so he found himself inside their circles of influence. He has led very influential life.

Bono the lead singer of the rock band U2 has been a powerful voice from the Christian Left. Like Graham he has been willing to work with leaders on the Left and the Right. He has taken flak from many of like mind for sitting down with leaders on the right like Rick Santorum, Rick Warren and George W. Bush. Because he was willing to work with people he may not always agree with he too has led a very relevant life.

I write this post as someone who not too long ago considered himself a member of the political and religious Right. I don't really consider myself right or left at this time and definitely not religious. I want to urge my friends on the Right to try a new tactic. Let's not cling to dogmatic and divisive ideals. Lets choose our battles wisely and more importantly lets find common ground where we can work together and make history as people who were willing to work together and not as those opposed everything our first African-American President tried to accomplish.

I have included a video of Bono receiving the 2007 Liberty Medal from George H. W. Bush as evidence of a relevant life. Let's make ourselves relevant too!

Peter Rollins Video Clip

This is a very poignant little video clip I got from a website called The Work Of The People. It is a short thought from Peter Rollins of Belfast Ireland. Check it out.



Check out their website at: http://www.theworkofthepeople.com/