Saturday, January 01, 2011

.





.My friend Oyvin
makes music
and also reflected
in Norway,
about this great season.
With permission
I reprint here::








Reflection by Oyvin Sonnesyn @ the annual Christmas concert in Ulstein Parish Church 22nd Dec 2010

I have a friend who loves posing questions to everyone he meets on his way. He actually collects questions and plans to publish a book with questions. His favourite question is: «Give me three words describing your life this very moment». No clichés, no replay of things you have seen or heard, just this deep, touchy... What three words you maybe have started putting together, I will most likely never know, and this occasion is not appropriate for sharing mine three words...

However, I can tell you that I since last time we me read a book which in the Norwegian translation is titled «Eat, love, live». The book is an autobiography by Elizabeth Gilbert from the USA, 32 years old, a handsome husband, a beautiful home, an exciting job, and now they are trying to have baby. Instead of feeling happy and content, she feels anxiety, grief and confusion. She doesn’t want to stay married, she doesn’t want children. She wants to be free, she wants to find the meaning of life. What is expecting her, though, is a devastating divorce, a crushing depression and yet another failed relationship, until she finally understands what to do. She gets rid of all that she owns, she quits her job and leave on a journey for a year - all by herself. In the book she tells about her journey, both her adventure and her inner life. She starts off with Italy, where she learns how to enjoy, speak Italian, and where she gains the nicest 11kg in her life. In India she learns to find peace of mind with the help of a local guru and a surprisingly wise man from Texas. Finally she comes to Indonesia (Bali) where she learns to gain balance in life by the help of a very old medicine man. And without seeing it coming, she meets love.

After countless recommendations on the Oprah Winfrey Show, the book has sold more than 5 million copies, only in the USA. The film based on the book was released this year, with Julia Roberts as the main character. To me personally. that is more than good enough...

«Eat, love, live» - it sounds as the recipe of a good, Norwegian Christmas celebration; good food, the nearest and the dearest gathered around, lazy days in peace and quiet. Lucky and happy are the ones who have this. However, it is somehow strange with these book- and film titles when they are translated into Norwegian. What the publisher was thinking, I cannot say, but in English the book is titled «Eat, pray, love». Is the original title worse than the Norwegian one, especially taking into consideration that the first describes her journey and experiences, in the correct order?
What about your life? Maybe this praying thing is a bit strange, something that does not fit in? What «lifetitle» or headline do you put on your life - «Eat, love, live» or
«Eat, pray, love»? Is there a progression here, a wholeness making sense also in the reader’s life, even though the publisher didn’t get it or want it?

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the words in 1st Corinthians 13,13: «And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love». Everything I do, my whole life, no matter how content, spiritual, gifted, serving or generous I am; without love, I am nothing, I have nothing, and everything I have done or achieved is without meaning or worth. As Elizabeth Gilbert probably would have expressed it: «Believe, hope, love - but the greatest of these is to love».

The US-American munk Brennan Manning said the following: "God entered into our world, not with the crushing impact of unbearable glory, but in the way of weakness, vulnerability and need.
On a wintry night in an obscure cave,the infant Jesus was a humble, naked, helpless God who allowed us to get close to him. We all know how difficult it is to receive anything from someone who has all the answers, who is completely cool, utterly unafraid, needing nothing and in control of every situation. We feel unnecessary, unrelated to this paragon (perfect diamond). So God comes as a new-born baby, giving us a chance to love him, making us feel that we have something to give him."

God would never demand anything from us that we do not have. God would never ask for something from us that He had not already given to us. And Christmas? It was you. It was you God saw when He sent Jesus to earth. It was to you He came. It was your life He wanted to fill with faith, hope and love. And He says to you: «Believe, hope and love - but the greatest of these is to love»!

The Lord bless you and keep you!
The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you!
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace!
Amen