Truth

This morning, I read a poem by Roger McGough. I enjoyed it very much, for it rings very true.

Half-term

Half-term holiday, family away
Half-wanting to go, half-wanting to stay
Stay in bed for half the day.

Half-red, half-listen to the radio
Half-think things through. Get up,
Half-dressed, half-wonder what to do.

Eat half a loaf, drink half a bottle
(Save the other half until later).
Other half rings up. Feel better.



Watched The Da Vinci Code with Fang Hai, Li-Shia (who is enjoying an Ice Blended Banana Mocha) and Rebecca today. We parted shortly after this picture was taken, but not before we managed some wacky shots...


Contrary to our facial expressions, Fang Hai and I are not 'bord.' (Actually, I only realised the homophonal connection between 'bored' and 'bord' when sorting out the pictures just now.) Behind us is the Alternative Medicine aisle. None of the books listed cures for diseases such as 'Fang Hai' and 'Benjamin.' In fact, such ailments were not found in any of the volumes there.


Inspired by the assassin Silas in The Da Vinci Code, and in part by Darth Sidious of Star Wars. (Denise, notice how my hands resemble the forelimbs of certain predatory dinosaurs?)


Here I am, Li-Shia's guardian angel. Standing behind the glass seems to have imparted to the better part of my body (namely, my jacket) a somewhat reflective and luminous quality.


So what are my views on the movie?

Firstly, if you like Ron Howard (the director), go watch his 2001 Oscar-winning movie, A Beautiful Mind. It succeeds much better as a thriller, besides also being more intelligent and emotionally gripping. The acting is also excellent.

Secondly, I stumbled upon a yet-to-be discovered relic from the Renaissance. It is called 'Audrey Tautou.' The female lead in the movie is so one-dimensional, she could even be a sculpture by Michelangelo and no one would know the difference!

Thirdly, if you want to debate history and/or religion, do NOT seek out Dan Brown's story. Even the transparent and flimsy Gnostic Gospels appear to offer far more to chew on.

Fourthly, Hans Zimmer disappointed me. I like his work on The Lion King, The Last Samurai and most of all, Batman Begins, but the music he composed for this movie was by and large forgettable.

Finally, what effect did the movie have on my faith? None whatsoever. I am convinced that when Jesus said he is the truth, he meant it. Simply put, a viewer, unless he has absolutely no opinions of his own, will walk out of the cinema believing the very things he believed in when he walked in. The movie has literally zero persuasive power.

However, one thought lingered even while I was taking my shower just now. Near the end of the movie, Dr Robert Langdon (played by Tom Hanks) suggests that Jesus was a good man, and need not be divine as the Biblical Gospels claim, in order to do what he did. Part of me nearly agreed, but then I immediately recalled John Irving's words from his book, A Prayer for Owen Meany, that if we do not believe the resurrection, we are not really believers.

Jesus is no mere man, however great. He is God. I believe that because only God can conquer death. And because I believe no grave ever kept Jesus in, I know him to be my Master and Lord of all creation. If this is not true, then Jesus was a liar, and life would be rather inconsequential. But if it's true, then it's something worth staking my entire life on, come what may.

May our Father in his wisdom lead us. Amen.