August Rush (2007)

Madeleine L'Engle says that God creates Cosmos from Chaos. This she relates to the work of the artist taking color, words or music and bringing them into harmony. This weekend my wife and I had an opportunity to see this "Cosmos from Chaos" displayed on the big screen. August Rush is, at once, a movie about an orphan trying to find his family, and at the same time a movie about the manner in which God works in the world.While the storyline borrows heavily from Oliver Twist it diverges in important ways. August Rush tells the story of professional Cellist, Lyla, and up-and-coming rock 'n' roller, Michael. The meet one night fall in love, but are torn apart by family. Michael never knows that Lyla is pregnant, and Lyla is tricked into thinking her child has died at birth (after her father forges her name on adoption papers). For ten years their offspring grows up in an orphanage before making his way to find his parents.Evan (renamed August by Robin Williams playing the Fagin role) finds himself in New York. He has always heard music and believes that music will eventually bring his family together. So, music plays a central theme in the story. August stands in Time Square and listens to every noise around him and slowly it turns into a symphony. This happens again later in the story at a point when August's musical genius is recognized.I loved the manner in which August is able to listen to noise and hear something else. In the hands of one person a trumpet makes noise, but in the hands of a skilled musician it makes music. Apparently random notes turn into something all together different in the hands of one who understands the purpose of each note.I love the way God takes the noise and disparate sounds of our lives and turns it into Music. God takes the apparent random events in our lives and gives them purpose. We become music when the noises and sounds of our lives are played by God. The same is true of the Church. Every note is important, every instrument is vital for a symphonic experience. An orchestra is incomplete without Flutes, Cellos and Trumpets, but it is just as incomplete without Baritones and Tubas. A piece of music is incomplete without all of the notes, harmony and melody. A church is incomplete in the same fashion. At first glance, a church with the disabled or foster children or homeless might look like chaos, but we know that our God bring Cosmos (Order & Beauty) out of Chaos

Adoption Journal #15

Why is it the holidays change people? All year long we've received a lot of support from friends about our adoption. We purposely delayed having biological children in order to pursue adoption. In truth the adoption has taken longer than we expected, but we are making progress. However, the last couple of weeks we have felt the sting of having an "empty nest." We were recently invited to a party, but asked to come two hours after the "moms" arrived. This was a little confusing, since we have spent a greater part of the year with the families invited to this party. Mandy has volunteered to help with children's parties, so the other mothers could focus on their children, but now we are isolated and singled out. During this party there were several occasions when the hostess made a distinction between Mandy and the mothers. During games she made a comment that this particular game would test how good the moms could do, then through in an aside in an attempt to include Mandy. I love my wife and respect the fact that she works over 40 hours a week at a difficult job counseling difficult children, then still finds the time to volunteer with the disability ministry at our church on Sundays, as well as being a good Aunt to our nieces and nephews and supportive of this person's children. During the party Mandy won a prize of candles and again the "no kids" issue was thrown out. Mandy was told that it was good she won that prize and not a mother since candles are safer without kids.This is a difficult time. On one side we get people who think it is so great that we are adopted, you know the "bless-your-heart" people. Then we get people who want to know why we aren't having our "own" kids. (Under this premise God can't love a person as much as their biological parents since He has chosen to adopt us). Now we get excluded from friends and family because we haven't produced children. It is hard to wait for the adoption. We could have gone the biological route long ago, but God had other plans. It is just difficult doing something taxing and tiring when people pile on. I know God has great things in store, but it breaks my heart that people can be so dense. It is hard to listen to people tell you that we're such great people for adopting then do everything possible to make us feel like we made a mistake. Pressure from family and friends to bring a child into our home doesn't make things easier.I know I'm venting and that everyone has not been so dense. In fact, we have a lot a great support from both family and friends, but painful comments seem to stick around easier than the supportive comments. We pray that God will give us more of a Teflon skin when it comes to these comments, and I hope that when you meet someone going through an adoption that you're supportive of their decision and don't give them reason to doubt.Mandy and I bought a stocking for our child-to-be. It serves a reminder that God has planned our family in advance and that our son or daughter is well in our hearts even if they are not in our home. Not everyone understands this, but we are thankful that God has given us the gift in our hearts at this Christmas season. It helps get through the frustrating times. It makes us hopeful and stronger. It makes us family.

Bella (2007)

This week Mandy and I took a few hours to see the movie Bella. Bella is the story of a young man who had been a promising soccer star with the potential to earn millions of dollars until he is involved in a driving accident costing the life of a young girl who had been playing in the street. As a result he gives up his soccer dreams and works as a chef in his brother's restaurant. One of the waitresses in the restaurant is fired for being repeatedly late, so our soccer star decides to get to know her. Through their day together he discovers that she is pregnant and considering an abortion. As he gets to know her better and introduces her to his family throughout the day, the idea of adoption is gradually brought into the picture.This movie is well done. This is a good movie, though probably not a great movie. It is not full of twists and turns, nor is it a surprise where the movie will end up (after all it's been promoted through Churches). What is important is where it goes and where it ends up. This is a movie that needs to be promoted by the Church. This is a movie that needs to be seen by every woman considering an abortion. No, I don't believe that it will change everyone's life. However, if it changes just one, than it's worth it.It's a simple movie with a simple, yet powerful message. It is a story about second chances, redemption and moving past our mistakes. In the story we see the guilt of taking a life, but we also see how someone moves past that. Too often people feel guilt over one thing or another, but consistently do the same stupid mistakes. Too often people talk about how evil abortion is, but do nothing to make room for these children through adoption or adoption support. Too little is done to include children with disabilities in the church, though as many as 85% are in danger of abortion, because there is no room for them. In Bella, we see someone who says that life is important and the taking of life is no small thing. In the story we see him live up to his ideals. This makes it a necessary movie.Critics can complain that the movie is overly sentimental or too predictable. I don't care. Good is good.

Disney and Family Values/ Meet the Robinsons (2007)

I have been thinking about family value recently and the issues that surround these values. I looked to see who was talking about foster car, adoption and disabilities. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the church or Christian media, it was Disney.Meet the RobinsonsMandy and I rented the movie Meet the Robinsons the other evening. We loved it. It is refreshing to see a movie that is uplifting and fun that also touches on a theme that is important to us. Louis Robinson is an orphan living in an orphanage. While the movie spends most of the time with time travel and eluding a villain, the fact that Louis is an orphan is prominent throughout the film. The movie shows some of the frustrations of trying to be adopted along with some of the hopes and dreams of children waiting for their forever families. What is family? How does one define family? Are all presented in this film and make it a worthwhile piece of entertainment. This is not the first time that Disney (or an affiliate) has taken on a subject of great moral importance. Unfortunately, Christian filmmakers have long avoided or overly romanticized subjects such as adoption or foster care allowing Disney and others to do the work they should have done.Take for instance Lilo and Stitch (2002) that portrayed a heroine involved with the foster system that didn’t fit the classic princess mold. Both of these movies, along with others, serve as reminders of how Christian media misses opportunities time and again to make meaningful films that introduce ideas and values to a receptive audience without being stereotypical, overly dramatic or romantic.Disney ChannelRecently, I have grown very frustrated with the local Christian radio station near my home. The evening are hosted by John Tesh who is more likely to quote Oprah or Dr. Phil than make a reference to God or even the Church. The station producers feel that “family friendly” is the same a Christian, but that is a poor assumption. You might also assume that the call letters of KFSH (The Fish) indicate the station is Christian, but no one really knows what that means in music industry terms. The commercials tend to gravitate towards cosmetic surgery or financial growth, which we all know is the true meaning of Christian (he says with a wink and a nudge). Any time a song comes along country radio that appears “family friendly” it instantly gets played on “the Fish,” regardless of whether that artist has a song about shacking up, getting drunk or some other “family un-friendly” behavior on his or her album, as well. I don’t get it and I don’t understand the rationale behind the “family friendly” equation.Contrast this with a commercial I heard on radio Disney the other day. It was targeted at children during the Christmas season asking them to treat other children with disabilities or special needs well. It told children to include other children and to be nice to everyone. It said that some children learn differently and need help to fell included. I had never heard a commercial like that before. When I heard it I did a double check to make sure of the station. This is something that should have appeared on a Christian station, but I know it never will. It is unfortunate that I have to rely on Disney to promote real family values when the church and Christian media will not.