My friends and I agree on one thing about the 2007 movie August Rush: if it had been about three minutes longer, it would have gone from “What a touching film” to “This movie changed my life.” For that reason, I’ve only seen it once. But it’s a testament to the power of the story that several scenes from it have stuck with me.

August is a musical prodigy, unknowingly orphaned by his musician parents, whose whole love story spanned only one night. (His mother was in an accident and was told that he died at birth.) He decides that his musical gifts are the key to finding his lost parents. His search leads him into the hands of a modern-day Miss Hannigan, played by Robin Williams, who makes talented kids perform on the streets for money. Thankfully, some good people recognize August’s talent and whisk him away to Juilliard, happiness, and safety. But just as a better life is unfolding for him, Robin Williams intimidates him into re-joining his troupe. In one cut, August goes from conducting a symphony he composed to performing on top of a box on a dirty street corner. That scene grieved me more than any other in the movie, and it took me a while to figure out why.

How often do we let others keep us in a place that we’ve outgrown, or that wasn’t right for us to begin with? Even worse, how often do we do it to ourselves? We stay in our cages because we don’t want to disappoint others, or because it’s just too scary to venture out. I’ve done it for those and many other reasons. I’ve encountered many people who encouraged me in my fear of change. But I’m learning to recognize when God is calling me on to something new, or telling me I’ve learned all I can in a particular area. As we grow, things that were comfortable and beneficial sometimes become oppressive – and that’s okay. It’s part of developing as a person, and nothing to feel guilty or scared about. Obviously I’m not talking about things that are meant to be permanent, like marriage. I’m talking about hobbies, jobs, clubs, churches, cities, even relationships. We’re all works in progress. We all have comfortable corners that are meant for us, but once in a while, God calls us on to Juilliard. So if He calls you, go and conduct the symphony He meant you to write. Don’t stay on the street corner, no matter how safe and familiar it may seem. It would be a sad shame.

(And I probably need to hear this more than any of you.)

3 Comments + Posted in: movies, reflections

Now that the holidays are over, I’m trying to cut back on calories. Unfortunately, I’m in a bad cycle of having small dinners to compensate for a day of eating normally, then getting hungry and grazing until I would have been better off just eating a real meal. This recipe strikes a good balance. It’s delicious and satisfying, but not guilt-inducing. I had some on Friday night… with a large glass of sangria. :P

Easiest Broccoli Pasta
Via Skinnytaste. Serves 6.

Ingredients:
12 oz. uncooked pasta
6 1/2 cups fresh broccoli florets (no stems)
5 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped (I tend to buy minced garlic in a jar and add it by the teaspoon)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
2 Tbsp olive oil

Directions:
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and broccoli at the same time, and follow the directions on the box for al dente pasta. When the pasta is done, reserve about a cup of the pasta water and set aside. Drain pasta and broccoli and set aside in a separate bowl.

2. Return the pot to the stove and set heat to high. Add one Tbsp olive oil. Once the oil is heated, add garlic and cook until golden.

3. Reduce heat to low and put pasta and broccoli back in the pot. Mix well, adding grated cheese, salt, and pepper. Add reserved pasta water to taste, continuing to mix well. Serve with additional grated cheese on the side.

I still haven’t gotten back into a posting rhythm since my break, so thanks for bearing with me!

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Sorry for the blurriness… I just hate using flash. :)

Add a Comment + Posted in: family, tigers

Last week I shifted around my craft and scrapbooking supplies to make room for my new sewing machine. I was seized with a brief urge to pitch all my craft stuff, because I couldn’t remember the last time I’d really done anything with it. It was saddening proof that I don’t have time for the creative things I already enjoy… so how will I work learning to sew into my life? Sewing isn’t a skill you can develop overnight.

As I’ve mentioned, my life is overscheduled, and has been for some time. I live in a constant state of chasing my own tail. I never stop feeling behind. My days are all accounted for in advance. If a block of time opens up, I fill it with a new commitment. Sometimes that’s just how life is and you can’t change it, but right now, I have the freedom to choose. I decided then and there, among my scraps and stamps, that something HAS to go. I’ve faithfully attended a Tuesday night line dancing class for over four years. I still love dancing, but I’ve grown bored with learning the same beginner dances over and over. So I’m taking January off, and instituting Tuesday Night Sewing and Craft Time. I started last night, and it was just as fun and refreshing as I had hoped. (It’s also an opportunity to work on not people-pleasing, since my instructor gets huffy when people are absent and has already asked where I was.)

My 2012 resolution is to create space in my life. It’s opposite the do-more spirit of resolutions, but it’ll be harder to see through than any “more” I could assign myself. I’m good at more. I’m good at overloading myself and somehow powering through it. But powering through isn’t exactly abundant living. I think it’s time to make room for freedom and spontaneity. To give my brain a little creative space to breathe. I sense that 2012 will be a recharging and refocusing year in some ways.

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our local musical light display

 

 

3 Comments + Posted in: celebrate, christmas, friends, reading, tigers