Advent and Christmas Reflections

It was an odd Advent season this year which seemed to just streak by and now another Christmas day is behind us. Sigh. We didn't even get our Advent wreath set up until the 3rd week. How bad is that? My wife tried to get everything done early, but still, we seemed to be running around in the last few days leading up to Christmas getting things done. The family was split up at times, as I worked late Christmas Eve and Christmas night and my son also had to work Christmas Eve. There is also an empty feeling when the whole family unit is not together, and I feel so blessed to know that those times are just temporary.  I think about all the permanently separated and divorced families this season and how hard that must be for everyone. As John Paul 2 quoted and if you glance to the right of this blog, there it is; "As the family goes, so goes the whole nation and the world in which we live."  My family has a unique situation where both my wife's family and my own celebrate holidays, birthdays, and special occasions together!

Anyway, the one part of my family which is missing in this physical world is my father. He passed away from the Alzheimer's disease over five years ago and I realize I still miss him. I took some time to visit his grave during a day during Advent, and for whatever reason that visit was very emotional for me. As I talked out loud to him, I wished he could be here to watch his grandchildren grow up and he would indeed be proud as they grow into wonderful young men and women.  I wondered why I cried so much that day and realized I still need my Dad even as I approach my dreaded 50th birthday. I told my wife later that evening I think I was on my own "time of the month"  Anyway, I realized if I need my Dad at my "advanced age", think how my teenage boys and my almost teen daughter might still need me? Sometimes it doesn't seem like they need me and they would rather keep their distance from "weird" Dad.  As I have found out through various Men's programs and research, the presence of a Dad is vital to the health of the family.  Maybe I'll try not to be too weird next year.  For those looking for a program for Dad's and husbands, check out the That Man is You Program at a Church near you! Go to the following link to see more about the program!   http://www.paradisusdei.org/index.php/programs/tmiy. 

Once Christmas day has passed we seem to get those post Christmas blahs and a kind of let down feeling. Yet even in the days past all the full tummies and presents, Jesus gives us the hope of another day, a new start, another year,  because he makes all things new!  My hope is my father has found his way to heaven and awaits his new body!  There are always things I can do better to become a better father and husband and hopefully 2014 will be a good year in that regards.

Two Must See Movies!

1. "12 Years a Slave". I recently saw this movie with my 18 year old son. There has been very little advertising on this film and has only been playing at select theaters at the time of this writing. I would assume the marketing will be gearing this film for Academy Award material. I would also suspect the subject matter of this film may be resulting in advertisers shying away to some extent. Anyway, a great film with wonderful performances all around. This is not an easy film to watch as it deals with the brutal and realistic portrayal of slavery in our country. Some of the reviews I have read, compared it on the level of Schindler's List.  I would agree with that and would add The Passion of the Christ to that comparison list. It is amazing the brutality that human beings are capable of through our history and this movie is no different.  I won't go into the plot but will only highly recommend it for mature adults. If you have a mature teenager, I would say 16 years or older could handle the material.  There is violence and some nudity, but of the "non-erotic" variety.  

2. "I am". An entirely different type of film released in 2010, which is billed as a documentary and  recently watched it on Netflix. This is a film by Tom Shadyack who at one time directed comedy films such as Liar, Liar and Ace Ventura. A near death experience caused him to take a hard look at humanity and this film is the fruit of that project.  He is basically trying to answer two questions.

1. What is wrong with the world?
2. How can we fix it?  

I think he does a very good job and getting a handle on these questions. No easy fixes of course but he certainly backs up his results with actions of his own.  There were 2 main ideas which stuck with me.

1. We are all connected in our humanity.
2. If we desire, or want more than our basic needs and requirements for living, it is considered a mental illness. In the wake of the recent black Friday, I would say we have a problem.

Chew on that for awhile.