Thematically Speaking

I know. I've had a brief hiatus from blogging. I apologize. It may have been somewhat more than brief. July 10? Nothing has happened since then! Good news for anybody who actually follow my blog though - I almost never write anything directly about what has been happening in my life, so you don't really miss out on anything - I just meander and share thoughts. A few quick notes before I start off on my latest diatribe. First off, I'm alive and well, working hard with school, work, and two jobs (I've been doing some work for a family law practice here in Richmond). I have a lot of ideas I've been yearning to get down, so you lucky few who read this will get to have a taste of those. So, upcoming blog posts: First, this week is a week of birth, the past few weeks have been weeks of rebirth - I'll be writing another post on birth and what it means to me in the wake of these past weeks and especially the past few days: my beautiful niece Honor was born to my amazing little sister Amanda and her loving husband, Craig. My Grandfather just celebrated another year of life. My dear older brother just had his birthday. These are some of the most important people in my life. I have to recognize them, hopefully I'll get my thoughts out soon. Later this week.
Next, I've given two talks in church since my last post, I think they're pretty good and hopefully you'll enjoy reading them. They'll be edited and posted sometime soon as well: one on obedience and one on education. Also: an analysis of Where the Wild Things Are - I love film and want to try out an in-depth analysis, in conformity with my post today. Upcoming: Freedom isn't Free and what that means - I've got two books to read before I make that post, but I've been thinking about it since July. Hopefully my thoughts will be of some worth.

Now, a quick post. When I was in my high school freshman English class, my teacher, Jasper Warembourg, told us all that up until that time most of us had only ever read books for plot, and that he was going to teach us how to read for theme. I don't even know whether I did learn the difference then, but I know now that learning that difference was one of the most important lessons I've learned in my life. Plot is important, but theme is essential. That is the difference between a true classic and cultural fads. I read the first book of the Twilight series, and I have some serious qualms about its structure, style, and substance. But recently I realized that the real reason that I find little value in that series is that it is based almost entirely on plot. There is no richness of theme, no deeper meaning behind the stories to be told. I find that Harry Potter is a series of books that is also not extremely well written, and I also have serious issues with it's style and substance. Rowling uses many of the crutches that Mayer does, but she is a superior author in her form. Despite that, it is the richness of theme that saves Rowling. Albeit a typical thematic choice, the Harry Potter explores the nature of right and wrong, politics, and the challenges of growing into maturity. Perhaps I underestimate Mayer's work - it seems that, thematically speaking, she may be addressing adolescence and growth into adulthood in her own way. Perhaps it is something that is more thematically rich to those who have experienced female adolescence, I cannot understand its appeal.
Excuse that digression, I mean it only as an illustration. My favorite works are often blunt in their themes - C.S. Lewis was straight allegorical, and Hugo used blunt tools as well. But despite the bluntness of the theme, its profundity and richness has touched my heart. Truly great works, whether they be in film, music, literature, or whatever medium, have levels of depth and meaning to them. So it is in our lives, each moment can have greater meaning than we recognize, and to reach greatness, I believe, we must be able to recognize the depth of meaning in our own lives. I have heard it said that when you have the proper spirit, even the worst sermon will touch your soul. I agree, but I also feel that there also exists a part in the sermon. A person who sees the themes in the world, a person who follows the spirit, will recognize profound truths in even the smallest and simplest things. But this is not to say that the same person, when guided by the spirit, cannot find far greater things in that which is truly prfound....

Hopefully my musings have some sense to them. I apologize if they don't. In closing, just in case I fail to write as soon as I intend - Cy, Grandpa, and Honor.... Happy Birthday! Thank you so much for loving and supporting me, Cy and Grandpa. You've both been such wonderful influences in my life. And Honor, you have an amazing mother and father - and aunts and uncles aplenty who will spoil you (as well as your grandparents!!) welcome to the world. I cannot wait to meet and hold you, I love you already.