doubt
the inspiration for episode 125 is mostly taken from a movie - the new one with phillip seymour hoffman and meryl streep - where he plays a priest and she plays a nun - and it's unclear who's the good one and who's the evil one. i've seen quite a few of the big oscar contenders in the past few weeks, and doubt definitely deserves to be in the running. the movie is based on a play called "doubt: a parable," and, i guess the "parable" part sorta gets at what i found most compelling about it - basically, the metaphor that uncertainty in any specific context has deep implications on how we see and feel and understand the larger unknowns of life - god, faith, passion, love, meaning... all of it, i guess? how do we make sense of things, or make decisions, when we're never sure? what does our choice of who or what to believe say about us???
that makes me think about a lot. and question myself, and try to dig deeper. what are my real values? why? when i think about the value of "art" in general, a book or movie, a poem or song - anything creative, really - that's the ruler by which i assess. art that brings us to that place or reflection is always a mystery to me. so amazing and beautiful and scary. and seeing doubt - the movie pushed me in those ways. more than anything, it reminded me of the amazing paradox mentioned in the bible (matthew 7:1) “for in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you." it's painful to hear those words. painful to see that my judgements of others are often the most incisive judge of me. but it also hits me fair and square - justifiably. cuz i see the wisdom and truth of it. i can't deny it. it seems undeniably true - the ultimate reminder that wisdom and forgiveness (and idealism and responsibility) are brother and sister.
anyway, i don't know what any of this means objectively. but it's where i am tonight. i hope it makes some sense. :) and, if you have time, i hope you can take a listen to the podcast, and visit the links...
julius caesar (aka ryan) - myspace.com/thekoedonarmada
doubt - the movie
doubt - the play
happy wednesday,
russell
that makes me think about a lot. and question myself, and try to dig deeper. what are my real values? why? when i think about the value of "art" in general, a book or movie, a poem or song - anything creative, really - that's the ruler by which i assess. art that brings us to that place or reflection is always a mystery to me. so amazing and beautiful and scary. and seeing doubt - the movie pushed me in those ways. more than anything, it reminded me of the amazing paradox mentioned in the bible (matthew 7:1) “for in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you." it's painful to hear those words. painful to see that my judgements of others are often the most incisive judge of me. but it also hits me fair and square - justifiably. cuz i see the wisdom and truth of it. i can't deny it. it seems undeniably true - the ultimate reminder that wisdom and forgiveness (and idealism and responsibility) are brother and sister.
anyway, i don't know what any of this means objectively. but it's where i am tonight. i hope it makes some sense. :) and, if you have time, i hope you can take a listen to the podcast, and visit the links...
julius caesar (aka ryan) - myspace.com/thekoedonarmada
doubt - the movie
doubt - the play
happy wednesday,
russell