I’ve spent approximately three days in Paris. I should probably tell you about the amazing view from the Eiffel Tower, the rush of traffic around the Arc de Triomphe, the majesty of Notre Dame or the delight of a walk around the River Seine.
But you know what I remember most?
The crepes.
I think I averaged two a day – purchased from corner stands and little street shops. Mmm.
I haven’t been back to Paris (yet), but I took a mind-trip there last week when I watched Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris. (Many thanks to my brother for the Christmas gift!)
I’m a pretty picky movie watcher, actually. More of a classics girl. (And we’re talking black and white, Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn. I cringed once when I heard someone call The Goonies “old.”)
But this one, oh, I loved. I loved the scenery, the wit, the travel back in time. I loved the main character’s nostalgia, his delight in the “golden age,” Paris in the 1920s. But I also appreciated what the film has to say about the present. In particular, I loved this quote from Owen Wilson’s character:
That’s what the present is. It’s a little unsatisfying because life is unsatisfying.
Life is unsatisfying.
You know, I think the Christian in a person could be tempted to refute that. To say God means for us to be satisfied. Which He does, doesn’t He? Eventually. But maybe not here…maybe not now.
Because, after all, here and now will never be the end of the story for a follower of Christ. There’s eternity. That’s our golden age.
Contentment. Happiness. Satisfaction. We taste them on earth. But they’ll consume us in heaven.
And when I stop to think on that, I realize, a little niggle of dissatisfaction now…a bout of restlessness…maybe those aren’t bad things. Maybe they’re simply reminders: There’s more to come. And it’s going to be even better than beautiful Paris at midnight.
What do you think? Does dissatisfaction have a place in a Christian’s life? How do we balance that with Paul’s encouragement about being content in all circumstances? And on the lighter side, in Midnight in Paris, Owen Wilson goes back to the 1920s…if you could travel back in time, in any city, when and where would you go?
p.s. I also absolutely love Adriana’s reply to Owen Wilson’s character after the line I quoted above. She says, “That’s the problem with writers. You are so full of words.” Ain’t that the truth?
Comments 8
We just watched that movie recently, too, and I really liked it (though it didn’t really remind me of the Paris I visited…it was much cleaner-looking!).
I totally get what you’re saying. A part of us longs to be with God in Heaven, where there is no crying and everything is perfect. On the other hand, it is really hard to imagine such a place really exists (though I know it does).
And I’d love to go back to Britain in the Pride and Prejudice era (not the official name of the time period, but I just love the dresses in the movie, lol).
Yeah, you’re right about the dirty-ness. Especially the metro…the Underground in London (at least central London) was sooo much cleaner. But I was still swept away by the scenery…especially the architecture!
Ooh, yeah, Britain during P&P would be fun…especially the dancing!
I haven’t seen that yet.
I think we should never be satisfied with where we are in our relationship to God and the more dis-satisfied we are, the more we dive deeper in with Him, and the deeper we dive…the more content we become.
No, rotten circumstances, lukewarm relationships, kids abused…I’m never satisfied. I want change. But I am content. Make sense? 🙂
Have a great weekend, Tagg!
Your thoughts mirrored mine as I was writing this…I kept asking myself, can I be content but dissatisfied at the same time? And I really think we can. It’s a bit limbo-ish, but that’s okay…
Have a great weekend, too! I’m writing all weekend, so it should be fun…
The movie was not at all what I was expecting, but I did appreciate this central theme.I think to often we look behind at some glory days moment, or we try to rush through the trials of the present to chase the elusive excitement of the future. Both of these are unsatisfying. And when we fail to find contentment in here and now wefail to see the ways God is blessing us today.
So true…there’s joy to be found today, even while we’re waiting for an eternal tomorrow. I like how Owen Wilson discovered that at the end of the movie. I liked the choice he made to stay. Yeah, the movie wasn’t what I expected either, but I loved the simplicity of it!
Ah, Cary Grant…one of my favorites:)
Dissatisfaction is what keeps me growing. I never want to become complacent with the things around me. Yes, I need to be satisfied with the blessings God has given me and not be jealous or coveting what other’s have…but I should never be satisfied with where this world is at…I love where you said, “here and now will never be the end of the story for a follower of Christ. There’s eternity. That’s our golden age.” Amen!
Oh, I love how you said dissatisfaction keeps you growing…it’s so true. It helps us draw closer to Christ and I think also to his purpose for us.
And yes, Cary Grant! I love pretty much every movie he was ever in. 🙂