What do I mean by that, LyinEyes? I dunno. I just think sometimes that my life would be a lot simpler, even happier maybe, if I was a believer. I've thought that for a long time. Written about it here on the forum. Not just a believer in the JW spiel, I mean, but a believer in god, heaven, life after death. The whole thing. it would be nice living with the thought that a powerful god was looking out for me, directing my steps, instead of knowing that I'm pretty much on my own all the time. I'd feel far less alone.
The advertising for the movie says it's an enchanting production, and it is. It shows a boy on the cusp of disbelief, the age we all go through when we realize there is no Santa Claus. We become smarter, but do we become better? Is our life enhanced with a knowledge that better fits with "reality"? Looking at it, I have my doubts that my life improved at all when I discarded those beliefs I held for so long.
The synopsis of the movie on the website says: "When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe."
I could be very wrong, but I think there's a lot of truth in there.
p.s. In his wonderful review of the movie, Roger Ebert says that those who know the Chris Van Allsburg book won't be disappointed. He also says "The Polar Express is a movie for more than one season; it will become a perennial, shared by the generations." I saw nothing in the movie's story or production to suggest that Ebert is wrong about that. I plan on seeing it again with my daughter and buying it when I can, but I have the strange feeling she won't like it nearly as much as I did. It's really not a kid's movie.
Btw, see it in 3-D if you can. Ebert says it's the best 3-D viewing experience he's ever had at the movies.
Posts by teejay
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13The Polar Express
by teejay inthe movie jibed very well with thoughts i've been mulling recently.
i wish, i wish, i wish i were a believer.... .
that said, just watch.
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teejay
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13
The Polar Express
by teejay inthe movie jibed very well with thoughts i've been mulling recently.
i wish, i wish, i wish i were a believer.... .
that said, just watch.
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teejay
The movie jibed very well with thoughts I've been mulling recently. I wish, I wish, I wish I were a believer...
That said, just watch. You wait and see. The Polar Express will become a classic holiday movie. Not quite on the same level as Wizard of Oz in terms of fantasy with a powerful message, but it's definitely in the same league. It is an excellent movie. -
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'Ray'
by WildHorses ini loved it!
i would be laughing my ass off one minute and crying the next, then tapping my feet to the beat of his music the next.. ray didn't hold any of the truth back, even his bad points were there for all to see.
and as for jaime foxx, he definately deserves an oscar.
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teejay
A remarkable, remarkable movie. One of the best I've ever seen. If there was anything I would have changed, it would be the length. At 2hrs, 33mins, I thought it was just a wee bit too short. Can't speak for anyone else, but I wasn't quite ready for the credits to roll.
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33
Compromise
by teejay inone of the fundamental keys to a successful marriage.
doing stuff you wouldn't ordinarily do... stuff you don't and wouldn't ever do by nature, but you do it because you're married to this particular person.
without it a marriage is, at best, an unhappy situation; at worst, a divorce waiting to happen.
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teejay
Thanks for the responses, y'all.
Instead of answering everyone one-by-one, I'll just say that when you boil it all down, what I'm basically reading from your posts is that there are simply some things in a relationship that are beyond compromise, whether it's JW-related or something else. We all have our boundaries that are inviolate ? immune to the desires and wishes of our mate. Or our parents. Or whoever. I can live with that.
I usually get on here and banter around philosophical questions for the sake of discussion, usually pretty much already having my mind made up, but this one was seriously bothering me and I couldn't come up w/ an answer on my own. Thanks. You guys helped me.
A confession: I harbor a little guilt in marrying my pro-JW wife at a time in my life when I appeared to be a staunch JW myself. She was considered a "catch," having been pursued by brothers from three different circuits as well as a plethora of "worldly" men. She saved herself for just the "right" brother and settled on me. Now that I have become the apostate that I am today with zero interest in any aspect of my former JW-ness, I suffer an occasional feeling of having betrayed her. I could go into further detail, but that's basically the size of it.
Btw, Happy Guy... yes there is a child involved. A five-year-old. If not for her, I seriously doubt I would have even thought of the question, let alone asked it. The solution, sans children, would be all-too-easy for someone like me who already questions the validity of "till death do us part," no matter what. -
33
Compromise
by teejay inone of the fundamental keys to a successful marriage.
doing stuff you wouldn't ordinarily do... stuff you don't and wouldn't ever do by nature, but you do it because you're married to this particular person.
without it a marriage is, at best, an unhappy situation; at worst, a divorce waiting to happen.
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teejay
I didn't ask the question because I'm looking for amuniition or to reinforce any feelings I have. I ask the question out of a simple need to understand for myself why going to the meetings should be exempt as an area of compromise.
Are there any other areas you can think of in marriage where a line ought to be drawn and a married person has the "right" to say, "I won't even compromise on that"? To ex-JWs, anything JW related seems to be one of those areas. Wouldn't that then justify her refusal to compromise in other areas?
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Compromise
by teejay inone of the fundamental keys to a successful marriage.
doing stuff you wouldn't ordinarily do... stuff you don't and wouldn't ever do by nature, but you do it because you're married to this particular person.
without it a marriage is, at best, an unhappy situation; at worst, a divorce waiting to happen.
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teejay
One of the fundamental keys to a successful marriage. Doing stuff you wouldn't ordinarily do... stuff you don't and wouldn't ever do by nature, but you do it because you're married to this particular person. Without it a marriage is, at best, an unhappy situation; at worst, a divorce waiting to happen.
Can someone tell me why going to the meetings with my JW wife should be exempt as an area of compromise? -
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Peterson verdict being announced!!!
by Billygoat inat 3 pm central time today on msnbc.
i know it's really fast, which has me a little worried.
i hope we don't have another oj fiasco on our hands.. andi
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teejay
there are hundreds of cases just like theirs every year
My point exactly. Why is America so interested in *this* case? Nothing else of interest going on all across America?
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Peterson verdict being announced!!!
by Billygoat inat 3 pm central time today on msnbc.
i know it's really fast, which has me a little worried.
i hope we don't have another oj fiasco on our hands.. andi
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teejay
O.J. was a Hall of Fame NFL running back. Then a pitchman for Hertz. Then an actor. I can understand America's fascination with his murder trial.
Who the hell is Scott Peterson? Why the thousands of hours on 8 different networks devoted to his trial? What was so special about his case that warranted all the attention. I never got it. -
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friend
by teejay inwhat's your definition?
how would you define the word... the person you'd refer to by that word?
what *is* a friend?
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teejay
some people view online friends as totally disposable. It amazes me! I suppose it's because these people use the term so liberally that they don't honestly cherish you as a friend, instead they kinda like you right now, but maybe not later.
It's a shame, but I do believe you *have* made some unfortunate choices. If it's any comfort, I think your failed "friendships" says much more about them than about you. And hopefully you've been able to learn something that will serve you later on.
Personally, I believe that, in time, people's true identity can be seen online. I remember the Family Book saying that we can get to know a prospective mate by watching how they treat others they care about. It will be a clue to how they might later treat their mate. That technique can be used when picking friends. I believe that people who view online friends and friendships as disposable are probably the same in real life -- untrustworthy, unreliable. People you'd be better off avoiding.
Then again, maybe it's like you said... people throw around the word "friend" without proper care and consideration of what the word means or what it might mean to the person about whom it's directed. I view the word very seriously... always have. When I consider someone my friend (whether online or off), that's it. I have their back, PERIOD. We may not always see eye-to-eye or even get along 24/7, but I hold them very close to my heart. To me, the only difference ? the ONLY difference ? between an online friend and a r/l friend is the miles in between us. -
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Danni
by teejay ini had a friend once.
his name was shelton.
in his own way, he was the best friend i ever had.
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teejay
"I don't want to change you, improve you, make you into my idea of your 'potential.' I love you not inspite of your flaws, but because of them. I love you for who you are right here, right now." No repairs, no fix-up, no grooming...just complete acceptance.
The wisdom of forty years speaks. Or maybe fifty.
I'm with you Sister Wasa.
It hasn't been all that long ago that I had a perfect labeling system. Had every body pegged. I'm done with judging people now. These days, teejay's all about acceptance. And scanning, however far into the distance, for potential.