Crossing Over

So, it's been awhile. Hello! I hope and trust you've been well. Happy Chinese New Year too!

All's good. There has been a variety of activity over the last month or so.

Christmas. Family. New Years. Party. Palm Beach. Waves. Jervis Bay. Friends. Melbourne. Drive. Maitland. Mission. Australia Day. BBQ. Home. Alone.

With activity comes change. But that's another story. In the meantime, here are some other worthy stories to share.

God

I read an exposition by Spurgeon earlier in the week on Luke 2:18:

"All they that heard it wondered at those things".

It prompted me to recall a piece of wisdom once dispelled upon me by a good friend - 'to never lose your sense of wonder'. The advice took my by surprise at the time, but unlike the host of freely given advice in this world, this one has proven to stand the test of time.

Here is the piece by Spurgeon.

We must not cease to wonder at the great marvels of our God. It would be very difficult to draw a line between holy wonder and real worship; for when the soul is overwhelmed with the majesty of God's glory, though it may not express itself in song, or even utter its voice with bowed head in humble prayer, yet it silently adores. Our incarnate God is to be worshipped as 'the Wonderful'. That God should consider His fallen creature, man, and instead of sweeping him away with the besom of destruction, should Himself undertake to be man's Redeemer, and to pay his ransom price, is, indeed, marvelous! But to each believer redemption is more marvelous as he views it in relation to himself. It is a miracle of grace indeed, that Jesus should forsake the thrones and royalties above, to suffer ignominiously below for you. Let your soul lose itself in wonder, for wonder is in this way a very practical emotion. Holy wonder will lead you to grateful worship and heartfelt thanksgiving. It will cause within you godly watchfulness; you will be afraid to sin against such a love as this. Feeling the presence of the mighty God in the gift of His dear Son, you will put off your shoes from off your feet, because the place whereon you stand is holy ground. You will be moved at the same time to glorious hope. If Jesus has done such marvelous things on your behalf, you will feel that heaven itself is not too great for your expectation. Who can be astonished at the manger and the cross? What is there wonderful left after one has seen the Saviour? Dear reader, it may be that from the quietness and solitariness of your life, you are scarcely able to imitate the shepherds of Bethlehem, who told what they had seen and heard, but you can, at least, fill up the circle of the worshippers before the throne, by wondering at what God has done.

Movies

I finally got around to seeing Before Sunrise, and Before Sunset starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.

I enjoyed it. The character development, the pace, the dialogue, the themes, the setting.

Some notable quotes from Before Sunrise:

1.

Céline: Love is an escape for two people who don't know how to be alone.

2.

Céline: No, no, no, wait a minute. Talking seriously here. I mean, .. I, I always feel this pressure of being a strong and independent icon of womanhood, and without making... making it look my... my whole life is revolving around some guy. But Loving someone, and being loved means so much to me. We always make fun of it and stuff. But isn't everything we do in life a way to be loved a little more?

Jesse: Hmmm. Yeah, I don't know. Sometimes I dream about being a good father and a good husband, and sometimes that feels really close.

Céline: Hmm.

Jesse: But then, other times, it seems silly. Like, it would, uh, ruin my whole life. And it's not just a, uh, a fear of commitment, or that I'm incapable of caring, or loving, because I can. It's just that if I'm totally honest with myself, I think I'd rather die knowing that I was really good at something, that I had excelled in some way, you know, then that I had just been in a nice, caring relationship.

Céline: Yeah, but I had worked for this older man, and once he told me that he had spent all of his life thinking about his career and his work, and... he was 52 and it suddenly struck him that he had never really given anything of himself. His life was for no one, and nothing. He was almost crying saying that. You know, I believe if there's any kind of God, it wouldn't be in any of us. Not you, or me... but just this little space in between. If there's any kind of magic in this world, it must be in the attempt of understanding someone, sharing something. I know, it's almost impossible to succeed, but... who cares, really? The answer must be in the attempt.

3.

Céline: It's good. When you talked earlier about after a few years, how a couple begin to hate each other, by anticipating their reactions, or getting tired of their mannerisms. I think it would be the opposite for me. I think I could really fall in love when I know everything about someone. The way he's gonna part his hair. Which shirt he's gonna wear that day. Knowing the exact story he'd tell in a given situation. I'm sure that's when I'd know I'm really in love.

Song

Missy Higgins - The Special Two

Though I don't relate to the song in full, certain lines within it are gold.

I've hardly been outside this room in days,
'cause I don't feel that I deserve the sunshine's rays.
The darkness helps until the whiskey wears away,
And it's then I realize the conscience never fades.
When you're young you have this image of your life:
That you'll be scrupulous and one day even make a wife.
And you make boundaries you'd never dream to cross,
And if you happen to you wake completely lost.
But I will fight for you, be sure that
I will fight until we're the special two once again.

When we could only need each other, we'd breathe together,
Our hands would not be taught to hold another's,
When we were the special two.
And we could only see each other, we'd breathe together,
These arms will not be taught to need another,
'cause we were the special two.

I remember someone old once said to me:
"lies will lock you up with truth the only key."
But I was comfortable and warm inside my shell,

And couldn't see this place would soon become my hell.
So is it better to tell and hurt or lie to save their face?
Well I guess the answer is don't do it in the first place.
I know I'm not deserving of your trust from you right now,
But if by chance you change your mind you know I will not
Let you down 'cause we were the special two, and will be again.

And we will only need each other, we'll breathe together,
Our hands will not be taught to need another's,
When we're the special two.
And we could only see each other we'll breathe together,
These arms will not be taught to need another...

I step outside my mind's eye's for a minute.
And I look over me like a doctor looking for disease,
Or something that could ease the pain.
But nothing cures the hurt you bring onto yourself,
Just remembering, just remembering who we were...