Forever is only the beginning.

I stumbled across a Twilight movie poster with this tagline and thought, "Who knew Twilight could pitch theology?"  It's no surprise as Hollywood really does reflect and influence social thought.  This is great if you are watching, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Pay it Forward, or the Help.  Not so great if you are watching the latest slash the girl and trash the planet movie.

We are discontent and wondering if there is something more.  After Eat, Pray, Love was released, who didn't want to head to Bali to live happily ever after with Javier Bardem? 

And finding the Meaning of Life in Our Town can feel like scrounging for bit parts in the B movie and realizing our big moments ended up on the cutting room floor.  You graduate from high school, leave your Friday Night Lights behind and maybe Hitch your way around the world doing good.  You learn How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, read the Shipping News, meet a Goodfella, and enjoy your 50 First Dates.

Soon, you've hired a Wedding Singer, get married, live your own Baby Boom and realize that you've read Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs so often you don't even need to look at the words.

Somewhere in all of the shenaniganizing you realize that It's a Wonderful Life, but it isn't Narnia where talking lions and noble mice help steer you safely home.  Wouldn't that be great?  Stardust, wonder, and mystery?

And sometimes...as you step on the 1000th Lego, life begins to feel endless, like your own personal Groundhog Day and you have to wonder if this is As Good as it Gets?

Good News.  There is the Greatest Story Ever Told...about a kid in a manger, a Life given over, and a shot at (the Shawshank) Redemption that George Bailey tasted when Clarence showed him the value of his own life in Bedford Falls.  And it is yours for the asking.  Just ask.

You won't turn into a Zombieland reject or even an overnight Saint.  You may wrestle with the questions and mysteries of living.  I sure do.  My Life is less Super 8 thrill right now and more Waking Ned Devine; slow, sleepy, wondering in this Leap of Faith.  

Don't despair.  Though the guy doesn't always get the girl and he doesn't always put a ring on it, you can always pop in the Princess Bride, crank up the popcorn, call your buddies over and remember that Planet Earth is not our home...at least not our forever home.  It's only the beginning.

Gratuitous List of Movies I wish could have made the blog

The Spitfire Grill (favorite all time movie)

School of Rock

The Italian Job

Simon Birch

Polar Express

Be Kind Rewind

Amelie

Running (1970ish Michael Douglas)

Bourne Trilogy

Gran Torino

The Quiet Man

Thank God it's Friday (Don't Judge.)

Any Danny Kaye movie

Bluebird

Mulan

To Kill a Mockingbird

A Knights Tale

Guns of Naverone

Dirty Dozen

Inception

Schindlers List

Three Musketeers (with Oliver Platt)

Lake Placid (only because Oliver Platt)

Roxanne (Steve Martin!)

The Pianist (Helloo Adrien Brody)

Little Miss Sunshine (Steve Carrel's best)

Back to the Future

Up

Into the Wild

How to Train Your Dragon (Surprise hit!)

Good Will Hunting

Big Fish

Everything will be Illuminated

The Big Night (with Stanley Tucci)

Station Agent

Big

Pieces of April

& Stanley Tucci reading True Lies ("My name is Meurte.")