Action Movies...And that Pesky Little Villain!

One of the many reasons that I enjoy watching action movies, is that it's pretty obvious who the villain is.  Their plan also usually involves in-your-face attacks and confrontations.  Even if you don't usually watch these kinds of movies, it's quite easy to tell very early on how the hero is going to have to defend himself.  Plus...big explosions!  Yes please!

Also, the hero is able to pinpoint exactly where the problem lies and face it head-on.  Sometimes I even find myself wishing I could live in such a movie!  Yes, I'd have scrapes, bruises, broken bones and gaping wounds on a very regular basis, but at least I will have something tangible and beatable to fight.

It's not that easy fighting battles in this life of ours.  We expect our confrontations to come head-on; or at the very least, we wish that they would, but unfortunately most of our battle-scars are invisible, emotional, psychological.

Have you sometimes wondered why things in your life that used to run smoothly, have derailed all of a sudden?  Do you stand confused at the seemingly random disastrous turn your life has taken after you thought everything was going so well?

I'm not here to try and tell you that I understand why all of these things are happening.  My point is actually to tell you that these things aren't random.  We are constantly battling things, right?  Of course you know this...everybody knows this.  But what we sometimes forget is that these battles sneak up on us in the most unexpected of places; the places we thought weren't important enough to attack; the places in our lives that invisibly hold us together and make us who we are.

And they happen because the ultimate (defeated, mind you) villain has figured out that if he kicks you at exactly that spot, you'll be crippled.  So you're going to have to come up with an action plan to get strong and fit enough to prevent him from taking away who you are.  It would be really cool if every training session in real life had an awesome movie soundtrack to it!  But alas...

Here's what I think that training programme should look like:

• Surround yourself with people, friends and best friends who knows you well enough to help identify the villain's weak spots.  Spend time with them, listen to their counsel and take it to heart;
• Spend time with yourself, get to know YOU.  Remind yourself that you are awesome, amazing and totally the hero of your own movie!
• Make sure to spend some time with God, because, let's face it, He's the writer, director and producer of your life. Oh, and that defeated villain up there?  Guess Who kicked his ass?  Haha!

So all you need to do is, place your foot neatly and squarely on the villains chest, because he was already beaten down into the ground completely!

Drama, Drama...No Thanks!

Before we start this discussion, you and I need to enter into a contract of agreement.  This is serious stuff, so please listen carefully:

You are, under no circumstances (not even under the threat of total annihilation), allowed to tell my mom what I am about to tell you.  Yes, my mom still scares me...a little bit.

Right, with that out of the way, let's begin.

For those of you who know me, I apologize, but I have to state, for anyone who might not have a clue who I am, that I thoroughly enjoy watching movies and stories.  Especially if they contain things that blow up, great action scenes, time travel and witty banter.  Superman always used to be my favourite superhero, but I've realized that The Doctor far outshines him in any situation.

But this is not the point of my rantings and ravings.  I was sitting in front of the television yesterday evening, flipping through the three charity channels we are so graciously blessed to have here in South Africa; and because of the time of day, almost every channel had some form of overly dramatic soapie showing.  I've always believed that walking in on a story playing on TV and seeing the scene out of context, will most probably cause you to have a completely different opinion from what you would have had if you viewed it from the start.  Even if it's your favourite show on the planet!

In the split second I spent flipping through the channels I caught a few seconds of Days of our Lives (I think...that's the one with the evil Italian old guy that refuses to die, right?), and I suddenly realized: "90% of drama in our lives weren't supposed to be drama at all."

I'll try and explain it this way:  For me, sitting in front of my computer watching DVD's (It has a really BIG screen and a nice sound-system) has always been the chosen way of relaxing and escaping.  And it won't change, because it's still something I love doing.  But at some point I've allowed it to become bigger than my life.  So much so that I almost stopped living my life...I created an alternative life. (And I moaned because I didn't have a life!  Yes, lame, I know!).  My mom ALWAYS tells me to stop watching movies because I'm wasting away my life (hence the contract I made you "sign" at the beginning of this post).

So, what changed, you might ask?  Let me tell you, it wasn't some big Thor-like hammer falling from the sky, landing on my head that made me realize what was happening.  It happened very slowly, almost imperceptible.

And it's not rocket-science, quantum-physics or any other sciency, mathy thingy that I don't seem to understand.  I just realized that all the little worlds we create around ourselves will never be a substitute for the real world we live in, the real experiences we are supposed to be having, the real fun that awaits us around every corner.

Yes, travelling through time and space with The Doctor will always be something I'd one day want to do, but  shutting myself away and ignoring the amazing life that God has given me to live, is just going to create more drama and pain than is necessary.

So, look at the world you've created around yourself and be honest:  Is this world attracting unnecessary drama?  Is the real adventure locked up in the life that God, in His amazing wisdom, has chosen for you?

Go on then!  Go find that fun adventure!