Tale as Old as Time....

So, I am, as I have told you, about to finish my Master's degree, and yet last night I found myself enjoying the show at Disney on Ice. I realize that technically I may be a little too old for Disney, but I can't help it. I feel such a deep connection to the stories and songs I cherished as a child. I won't lie....I still have a few soundtracks in my car and I own an extensive collection of limited edition dvds....

Anyway, as I sat there last night watching the skating princesses, I couldn't help but consider the premise of almost every fairytale: love. In Beauty and the Beast they sing "Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme..." This really struck me as I watched each girl find her prince charming....in so many ways, God put us here for companionship. He designed one man and one woman to complete each other. This simple thought in an even simpler presentation stuck with me as I imagined all the maidens and men across the world and across time that have fallen in love. Two hearts that are finally made complete.

I know that's a bit sappy, but--as I am one such girl in love--I feel connected to this great cycle of boy meets girl....I think we should give Disney more credit in honoring love the way they have done time and time again.

The Painting

When I was in Europe this past summer, I visited the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. We had a special tour of the museum, and our guide gave us countless facts on painting after painting. But what was most intriguing (to someone with no art history background) was the careful analysis of a specific painting. Upon first glance I would agree it was a lovely piece of art. But then our guide began to explain the symbolism and hidden meanings within the painting. I realized that, while I enjoyed the piece of art, I did not see it the way it saw itself or the way the creative artist intended it. After the explanation I was enlightened and able to appreciate it that way, but my initial lack of understanding got me thinking.

Two things. First, I wonder how often we see ourselves differently than the way others see us. This came to a frightening reality when I had a discussion with my mother yesterday. The way she assessed my life and behavior was way off! I mean, I just continuously thought "that's not true! You've got me all wrong!" Now, I realize that some of this can result from human error or people's own delusions of interpretation, but I guess in some ways it can come from a distortion of how we view ourselves, and the way others interpret us. While I know I can't and wouldn't want to live my life defined by other people's opinions, I also don't want to live misunderstood. I think God has called us to live lives of transparency--open and honest with those around us. This experience with my mom really shed light on this for me, and has inspired me to strive harder to openly make who I want to be and the way I see myself be the "me" that others see.

Secondly, I got to thinking about the painter. I wonder if it hurts him that the world doesn't see his work the way he intended it....with all its delightful complications and deeper levels. I wonder if God feels this way. As the great Creator, He designed us with a purpose and a plan for how we would show Him to the world. Does He look at my life and think "Ugh, people just don't see her the way I intended" or does He think "That work really expresses what I wanted it to." I want God, my artistic genius, to look at the canvas of my life and feel proud of what He designed. I want to be the painting that speaks to people.