CRASH

Well, this movie came out a couple years ago, and I'd seen previews of it while watching other movies. It seemed intriguing, so it was added to my list of movies yet to see.
After reading a recommendation of it recently, I hunted it down (both the library & one video store did not have it, but I did find it at the other rental store in town).

I cannot say I enjoyed it, though some moments were beautiful.
I did not dislike it, though certain scenes had me forgetting it was a movie, and literally left me gasping for air.
It was raw, harsh, and sometimes even brutally realistic. The twists that the "plot" took were gut-wrenching. It definately earned an "R" rating.
"Crash" is mostly a snapshot of life in a big city, and how the residents feel isolated, yet come to realize they are not alone.



The movie made me realize some important things about this life - however unintentional these messages were to the creators & actors...

We all can choose to roll with the punches, or let life's rotten luck get us down.

People may mistreat us, but they generally have valid problems they are dealing with that cloud their judgement, and do not choose to simply be mean & nasty.

Though we may change, grow, and leave our old ways behind, we should not forget or ignore those who have helped us along the way.

There are angels of all sorts around us - may we be open to see them!

This fallen world is harsh & cruel, and we all will suffer because of that fact to some extent, but we must never forget we are made in His image, and can choose to share His love with our brothers & sisters. We may be of different characters, colors, & creeds, but we all bleed the same.

Finally, I borrow a line from a Hanukkah card I viewed yesterday...

"(T)he purpose of darkness (is) that you should shine"

A Song for Princess :)

Chris Eaton - Old Friends

Something to Remember

I saw this posted somewhere today - here it is, as well as I remember...


A mother was out Christmas shopping with her two young children.
As she herded them up and down aisle after aisle, through store after shopping mall, she tired of their cries... "I want that" "Stop pushing me" "Mom, I'm tired"

She - with children in tow - fought her way through the pushing, shoving crowds, the endless checkout lanes, and the tiresome selection of potential gifts.

Finally, she reached the end, and she and the children, along with numerous shopping bags (overflowing with the day's purchases) crammed into the elevator to travel to the parking center.

Exasperated, she muttered "Whoever started all this Christmas madness should be caught, strung up, and shot!".
A pause followed, then a calm voice admonished from the rear of the elevator car
"Don't worry, we already crucified Him".

...and all was quiet.

Remember the Reason for the Season.

listen to...
Todd Agnew - Did You Know?

Finally some blog-worthy news!

This evening I had the interview for that "customer service/telephone answering" job.

It went well enough, I feel, though I don't have extensive enough training/experience in the job category. I know I could learn it easily enough, & the work would be an appreciated rest from all the hard work I've been doing.

It features paid training for 16-24 weeks (depending on what they require of me & how quickly I learn, I suppose), and though I'd get 3 weeks vacation, and have more flexibility in my schedule, they require me to be available to work more hours per day than I'd be scheduled, they'd start me with a pay cut from my current job selling soda, require me to stay in that position for one year before transferring/quitting, and the training starts in like 3 weeks!
I'd have to quit my day job soon!

I don't know how dispensable I am in my current job, or how difficult that would make things there, but I'm a little uncomfortable up-and-quitting after 9 years there.

The potential new job would also require getting up an hour or so earlier, driving 30-40 minutes one way to work, and dressing in "business-casual".

I'd almost prefer that this new job was forced on me - I'd have to adjust then.
Is this the door to walk through to get where I want to be? Or will it delay me & my much-laid plans?


Lots to think about. Lots to pray about. Big decisions ahead, but I have goals now, and if this is what it takes to accomplish them, I'll accept the challenge. God will help me (wish I could see that traffic light!).

listening to...

Dido - Christmas Day
Amy Grant - The Night Before Christmas
Beyonce - Irreplaceable
The Killers - When You Were Young