I like to laugh and I like true stories. I’m also occasionally guilty of being borderline inappropriate (by some measures). I’m not sure how I missed this movie. But I’m super glad that my DIL texted me and said, “Halfway through this movie, Helen Mirren’s character gives a speech in front of a big meeting for their women’s group and she reminded me of you”. That’s all it took. I’m on vacation. I can’t be outside again because it’s raining. The bucket of vinegar and water to wash the living room walls can wait.
The story is set in Yorkshire, England. A women’s group finds charities to support each year. In 1998, after the death of one of their spouses, eleven of the women determined to create a calendar posing nude behind everyday household items. They hope to raise enough money to purchase a new sofa for the family waiting area in the local hospital.
I realize I’ve already lost part of my reading audience. Posing nude for calendars isn’t exactly the first thing you think of when reading a Christian woman’s blog. But this story was beautiful. It was real life.
Friends rallying around each other for a variety of reasons (death of a spouse, divorce, adultery, teenagers being arrested, etc.), sacrificing and supporting the endeavors of a spouse, speaking up in the face of unpopular opinions or thoughts. There were so many fantastic nuggets that I’ll need to watch it again. It struck me so deeply.
Brenna Blain has recently been delving into the area of “the heart”. I’m so fascinated by her maturity and theological mind; the way she slowly and methodically unpacks each and every thought. There are so many things that we are guilty of judging by. Outward actions that cause us to point fingers and whisper. But over and over in scripture and even at the end of the Ten Commandments, we see God calling out the condition of our heart ~ coveting. No one knows what’s in there except us. And most of us aren’t super quick to expose ourselves.
I’m not everybody’s cup of tea. I’m perfectly fine with that. I’m not a “warm fuzzy”. Just ask my husband. At the end of the day, I want to be like those women. I want to stand in the gap for my friends. To embark on journeys that have unknown endings. To speak up when no one else will. And to see when I’m part of the problem.
No one cares about how intriguing broccoli is or where I purchased my rug from (you’ll need to watch the movie). It’s the heart. And I’ll be working on mine and not worrying about anyone else’s for the foreseeable future.
Proverbs 4:23 ~ Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.