Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Let's Talk

Place yourself in Paris, France. Imagine the sites. Hear the beauty of a foreign language spoken around you. Cross the old cobble stone roads and enter a beautiful garden park - the Luxembourg Garden. As you walk through the flowers and geenery of this garden, there before you is an elderly woman with a sign, "Let's Talk."

Miss Lilly is her name. She wants to talk to whomever will talk. Everyday she makes space next to and around her to talk and listen to others. She speaks many languages, she is not a counselor, she is not pushing politics nor religion. In fact, politics and religion are off-limits. She will not speak of them because these are the cause of war. Instead, she hears of the hopes and dreams, hurts and fears of people. If you want to listen to a brief newscast by Susan Stamberg then Listen Here.

This is perfect. I love this set-up. Now, I would not want to eliminate any subject from conversation. Let people talk about whatever they wish. Miss Lilly claims this cannot be done by a man nor a young woman. This can only be done by an old woman because they are "safe."

Well, I want you to imagine something. I have hung out my sign "Let's Talk." You are here. You have read this far. Ask me something. Ask me anything you wish. Or share something with me.

Let's Talk!


5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Question?
What are your thoughts on the Harry Potter book series?

Are they really a subtle introduction to darker things?

Or, is magic used to engage the reader into an imaginative world?

Anonymous said...

At what time in a persons life do they recognize who they are and what they are relative to the world arround them?

Can we assume that a person is or should we find what a person could be?

IF is not a question, more like a missed opportunity. What if there were no if's.

Brady Bryce said...

The Harry Potter series . . .
Well, I can relate my perspective and that comes from limited experience. So, I look forward to hearing what others with more exposure think, too.

I read the first book via audio tape in my car. I also have seen the first and second movies. Harry Potter's world is an imaginary world with good and evil forces. The "good" is encouraged and the "bad" is discouraged. In that way, we have a really nice look at the problem of evil and the choice each one of us has between good and evil, love and hate. I found the closing climactic scene in the first book to have some great spiritual meaning and even connection to the story of Jesus.

Mythical and fantastic writing is important for the spiritual development of a child. It encourages an openness to other worlds - that there is more to life than meets the eye. While I prefer, C.S. Lewis and the Narnia trillogy (which I might add is coming to the big screen)and the Lord of the Rings, the Harry Potter can be a tool in the hands of adults who will read with, listen carefully to and guide their children.

Remember the greatest mystery of all is known to followers of Jesus. Followers like Paul, who called us to be fools for Christ. Even Jesus tells us we must first become children to enter the kingdom.

What insight, fears, experience would anyone else share?

Brady Bryce said...

At what time in a persons life do they recognize who they are and what they are relative to the world arround them?

When one realizes there is some being beyond themselves, they can accept love. When one can accept love, they can show love to a world they are one with.


Can we assume that a person is or should we find what a person could be?

If you are interested in something more than what a person "is" and in "what they could be" then you are not showing love to them. You are projecting yourself on them.


IF is not a question, more like a missed opportunity. What if there were no if's.

It is hard to eliminate a word that you must use in a sentence. I am not powerful enough to eliminate one word. I really don't want to eliminate a potent "faithful" world like "IF." IF can keep people moving in faith.

Anonymous said...

I was thinking about Jesus when He spoke to the rich young ruler, asking him to give everything up and follow Him...HOW EXCITING! How nice would it be to live in a community of believers in which we have all given everything up and gotten excited about what our Lord has promised to us! That's my dream. I like that kind of IF. I don't think it's a missed opportunity. Not that if. I think that IF is just the bud of a huge garden that is about to (I'm speaking in faith)bloom! How exciting. My dream is that we all 'give it all up' and follow Jesus together. Not because we have to, but because we are invited to by the Creator of the universe.