Pre-Story, Story

Don’t you find it interesting that movies these days are picking up on more “real life” stories? Hollywood has begun to fall back into the reality of life when it comes to entertainment. 500 Days of Summer, The Blind Side, The Hurt Locker, Julie & Julia. Hollywood directors and writers are picking up on this idea that people don’t just want to see the typical, unreal love or war story. It's not that the stories even have to be faithfully true, just true to our lives going in the direction real people actually go.We want to see real life too. People want to identify with the movies again.

Not only is the new thing to depict real life, but now the trend has also begun to take the audience back to where the story really began. Take Wicked the Broadway musical as an example. I will never watch The Wizard of Oz the same way again. It’s no longer about Dorothy anymore. Dorothy is now only a chapter in the epic tale of Oz and the injustice trying to be conquered by a witch. Or how about the classic hero’s like Superman and Batman? Up until a few years ago we didn’t know the journey it took for them to get where they are (unless you were actually a comic book reader). I know for me it wasn’t even really something I thought about. What mattered was that there was just a hero to save the day. But now Hollywood has begun to dig deeper and unleash their creativity and explain what lies beneath a character or event. I think it’s brilliant not only for capitalizing money on the most well known stories, but because now we are awakened to the full story. No one is great or evil, they become it. And sometimes we are invited to see it.


Now put that perspective into your own life. The why’s and how you got where you are then become quite amazing. Maybe you don’t like the before story, but it’s your explanation at least. Maybe if you were to think about the early story, life can mean something different. Sad days can be made (somewhat) better. Answers longed for are ephipanized.

After losing his wife Ellie, 78-year-old Carl became an angry and bitter old man after realizing he lived an unfulfilled promise. Carl spent his life trying to save money and time to give the love of his life the adventure she wanted since they were kids. It’s not until the very end of the movie in Up that we see that Carl was Ellie’s adventure. I spent the whole movie sad that Ellie died before Carl got to take Ellie to South America. But those last few moments of the story in the photo album that Carl never knew about behind the story for him to make it to South America made all the difference. It solidified and restored what adventure even meant to her.

There was a journey in giving your heart away and losing it. There was a journey in feeling like you never lived a fulfilled and purposed life. And there is certainly a journey to be taken when you are only 23. No matter what the before story ends up with, it’s entertaining none the less. I don’t want to be like Carl when I am 78 and realize the moments of the pre-story. It’s a good ending to finally know it all, but what a sad “middle” to live within.

My "Thing", Your "Thing"

I am looking to buy a new pair of red shoes. I have seen a ton of styles, but I still haven't found "the ones" yet. The ones in this picture I have had for a couple of years now. You can't really tell, but they are quite dirty and torn up. Stains, rain, and dog teeth have taken their toll on these shoes.

What do you own that is more meaningful than anything? Is there something you have that you will never give up, even if its a crappy t-shirt or a certain pen? Or maybe it's a simple picture or card? The value held behind your "something" can't quite be expressed with words, just your emotions. Because no one can understand why it was so meaningful that your best friend gave you that t-shirt, the meaning behind the pen, or what was being said to you during that photo. These are your reminders of what is most important to you in your life. It's quite beautiful when you think about it.

For me it's red shoes. I have never kept a pair of red shoes that I can't wear anymore, but I always have a red pair. The first pair that I got was when I was 4 years old at my birthday party at McDonald's (why don't we celebrate there more often?!) My aunt gave me the "one of a kind" Dorothy shoes that were just like the ones from The Wizard of Oz. I don't remember anything else about that birthday other than putting on those shoes. My life would never be the same after receiving those. The red shoes made me come alive, like her, like Dorothy. I told myself I could do anything and I really believed it and I actaully still do.

It's the memory and the stories behind the "thing" that keeps us going. It keeps us in love or makes us never forget the pain. I wear my red shoes when I want to feel empowered or to encourage me to dream. I wear them when I have big events, meaningful moments, or simply to feel like a little girl again. I remind myself to forget what is behind and chase my dreams God has put in my soul. I have to have just the right red shoes everytime because I don't settle. I don't settle for just any red shoes, and I don't settle for just whatever happens in life. And you shouldn't either. We should always be wanting to move to that "something greater than ourselves" in life, wherever it may be or wherever it makes you stay.

I had a friend last week pray with me about some things. A lot of things actually. In the middle of prayer she stopped and told me God had just given her a vision of me that she needed to share. She didn't know what it really meant, but she just looked at me and said that God wants to give me a new pair of red shoes. I started crying because she had no idea that not only have I literally been looking for some for a few months now, but my soul has been wanting some new red shoes. New dreams, new hopes, and a new vitality. It made me cry, but then it made me smile, because I too really feel like I am getting some new shoes soon. It's good to know God wants to give me them.