Commitment

To make a decision and stand by it is a difficult task. It is avoided by some in our society as if it was the Bubonic plague. Many of us fear commitment. We don't want to get involved in anything that we can't get out of. Perhaps it seems like freedom to be so devoid of commitments. Often what many people think of when speaking of commitment is a romantic relationship. Marriage specifically is particularly frightening because it is supposed to be a lifelong commitment. We vow to live our lives committed to our spouse until one of us is dead. In this country, most of us break that vow. I have made that vow to my wife and I fully intend to keep it. There is another lifelong commitment I have made and I made it so long ago I barely remember it.

Twenty eight years ago, at the tender age of four, I made a decision. I decided that I wanted to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Obviously, at that point, I didn't fully grasp what that decision meant but it has shaped my life ever since. I committed my life to the one true creator God and as I grew to understand what that entailed I was faced, at various stages, with the decision to affirm that initial choice in light of what I learned. I sit here today and I make that same decision. I will entrust the one life I have to live to God. If my life is to have any meaning or significance it will be because of His work in and through me. None of this is new in my mind, here is what is new.

Something occurred to me, just today, as I was reflecting on this commitment I continue to make and the precarious position in which I now find myself because of it. I realized that if there is no God, no power above and beyond this finite existence who intends to empower and use me, I am in huge trouble. That conclusion might seem to be an obvious one considering the statements made in the previous paragraph. However, the reason I would be in huge trouble if God does not exist is not because I have entrusted my life to Him. Rather, the reason I would be in huge trouble is because no matter what I entrusted my life to it would ultimately be meaningless in a world without God.

I'm tempted to expound but I will refrain for the sake of time and clarity as I am writing this at 5am. Instead I will leave it at that unless someone has any questions.

Movie Review #8: Inception

It has been almost two hours now since I saw the closing moments of Inception and I still haven't fully recovered. In anticipation of watching Christopher Nolan's latest film I began composing the beginning of this review based on the assumption that Inception would be a good film. I cannot write what I had planned because Inception is not a good film. It is as close to being a perfect film as I have seen in many years. In every way I can imagine, this film excelled. It was written with such depth, heart and intelligence that, even in the middle of watching it I knew I would need to re-watch it many times to fully absorb everything that was going on and, what is more, I knew that I would want to re-watch it many times. I cannot recommend highly enough that those who are of sufficient age and temperament who think they might be interested in seeing Inception go to their local theater and do exactly that. However, I'm going to offer a free piece of advice before you go.

Don't worry if you feel like you're missing a lot of the detail that is being thrown at you about the world that Nolan and company have created for us. It is a rich and complicated world. Allow the mystery of how it all works to remain a mystery for now and to serve as a backdrop for the fantastic stories that are being told against it. Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to think about it and, someday, to dissect it on DVD.

I won't go into detail about the story line or attempt to describe the ideas put forth in Inception. If you have seen a preview and are intrigued, that will be enough. If you haven't seen a preview either look one up or simply accept my recommendation and go see it. If you have seen a preview and aren't interested, um, frankly I'm surprised that you're reading this.

Inception was masterfully written, beautifully scored and edited to near perfection. The acting performances were outstanding and the overall direction was so outstanding that after seeing it I wondered allowed to those who were with me if there is a better director working today. With six fantastic efforts in a row, going back to the equally mind-boggling Memento, I can't think of any.