In Perfect Peace

Most people's definition of peace would be lack of stress, strife, or conflict, but that isn't possible in this broken world.  But there is a certain Prince of Peace, Who has promised us perfect peace, but not peace as the world gives it, a peace that passes all understanding (got that song stuck in your head now?) but how can that be when we are also promised strife, troubles, and sorrow by the same Person?  He who promises to bring not Peace but a Sword?  Ah, the paradox of this strange, funny, wonderful life!  You can have Joy even in your sorrow, Confidence amidst your doubt and uncertainty, you can be Holy even while sin haunts your daily steps, and Peace amidst chaos and strife.

Peace is one thing I cherish above all else in our home.  I never had it growing up, only an uneasy break in the constant tension when my mother wasn't home, but she always came back and then the constant belittling, shaming, criticism, and frustration would begin anew.  We don't have a perfect home, far from it, especially with two rather loud kids, and four quite strong willed people, we have our share of disagreement, tantrums, and disagreeable episodes, but behind and beneath it all, there's a love that never gives up or goes away, hope is never quenched, a person's value is never questioned, and one's security is never threatened.  My kids don't worry that I might not love them anymore if they don't listen.  My husband doesn't wonder if I'll be here in the morning after a disagreement the previous night.

That's the Peace that is offered, not a peace the world understands, for it is something from beyond the world as we know it.  A peace, a security, a sure-footed stance on an immovable mountain rooted in eternity itself, no matter what the storms of life throw at you, even if war engulfs you, that sort of Peace will never waiver or fail.  And it is free to all takers, if we'll only accept it.

Some articles worth reading

Getting rather depressed or confused by the obsessive politics and irascibility on either side of the aisle?  Here's an interesting analysis.

Feeling rather stymied by modern cultural trends and wondering how to be both rational and realistic in an age of more and more nonsense?  Read this.

The Reason for Story

I watched Masterpiece Theater's version of 'Northanger Abbey' last night, and I think I may actually like the movie better than the book, which is not something I ever say about Jane Austen!  But there are so many painful scenes in the book where Miss Catherine is unwittingly annoying Mr. Tilney because of her awful friends that I can't help but blush for her, ugh!  Happily in the movie, with time constraints, they only show one such scene.  Another interesting subtext within this particular movie was the mention of vampires, or rather a form of vampirism.  I've often noted the true-to-life narcissists in Austen's other works (both novels and movie versions) but this is the first actual discussion I've seen of the topic, though it wasn't spoken of in those terms, narcissists are often referred to as emotional vampires.  Besides, Lady Catherine, General Tilney is certainly one of Austen's best depictions.  

I bought a version of 'Persuasion' at the same time, hoping it would be better than the other one I saw, but still I was disappointed.  The book is good, but the movies are rather tedious, perhaps it is impossible to make a good movie version of this particular novel?  I now have an enjoyable version of each of Miss Austen's works save 'Persuasion,' even a 'Lady Susan' though it is called 'Love and Friendship.'  Even with all our mastery of the computer arts and visual effects, no one has yet mastered this elusive work, for Austen's works are not about show and glitz or even the happy ending, but deal with humanity in all its shades of good, bad, beautiful, ugly, joy, and sorrow, which are the heart of any great and enduring story.  And our modern movie making is moving ever further from just that, sufficing itself with grander and more epic battle scenes, more violence and nudity while the very reason we tell stories in the first place is forgotten, it is not to be entertained but rather to learn something about ourselves, our world, and our place in it.