Again I wish you all a Merry Christmas, now that it is over. We have spent time together as families in whatever size and shape they may be, and on this night I find myself reflecting quite a bit!
I'll start off with Les Misérables! What a fantastic production! The acting and the music were brought together in a truly breathtaking way. I felt very involved with the characters' lives and I felt that I could learn a lot from them. We can learn (or rather remember, being that we generally know things and only need to be reminded of them) about life and why it is so important. We can understand more about what it means to grow up and watch children make their own lives. We can see that sometimes life deals us a rough hand. We can be grateful for the things that we have and for those that we do not have to give up. We can learn that obsession, even if for a good cause, can sour and ruin a life. As is the case in love, we see that true love can overcome any barrier, and that unrequited love is still as it shall ever be- the saddest story that shall ever be told. We can remember what true courage is, and ponder over when it is truly courage, or when it becomes an ignoble cause that does not merit our support. We can see the weighing of mercy and justice. We can learn of grief and pain and of love and sadness. There are so very many things that we can find within this exquisite piece of film that really is so much more than just that.
As with the Hobbit I have thought much on the messages that are presented to us and I can tell that there is an amazing common theme. We can see the depth and simplicity of life. We can see that true joy comes not from a tantalizing forbidden pleasure that brings hate and deception into our lives, but that it comes from the heart. It comes from true feelings, those not masked by worldly gain or the fulfillment of a rancid appetite. That which is sweetest is the love of the heart. Not of a physical persuasion but something deeper than that. When we dig deep and find nothing but shallow roots we must pull the weeds and plant a seed that will grow. When we dig deep and find unknown roots that run deep into our souls we can tap into an endless fount of all that is good in us. How is it so? Simple. Character.
We are all beings that can choose. We have the infinite power to make so many decisions and change so many little things. Those little things in turn change the big ones. It isn't something that happens overnight, but so it is in life as well. Bilbo Baggins didn't just walk down the road and come back, he was gone for a long time! Jean Valjean didn't spend one night in a cell and then claim his reward. We can't allow ourselves to be caught up in having every little thing we want right now. We cannot and must not be content to just have the shallow roots. We need to dig deep into our character and grow. Growing causes pain and is not easy. It isn't something that happens all at once, but over time.
We need to look around ourselves! The world is brimming with potential. That's why the Doctor chooses to save us all the time. That's why all the heroes that have ever lived, either in history or our hearts, were created- because they believed in us.
This Christmas I want you to know that I believe in you, I want you to succeed, and I am here for you. I know that it may seem a small gift, but it is the best I can give. I give myself, as your friend. I want so much for all of you (and yes, I mean YOU) to know how much I believe in you. Thrust deep your roots. Tell me of your successes, I want to know! Talk to me when it is hard if you want, and I will do my best to help.
The point I want to make is that no one should have to be alone, and I don't want you to be, if you're feeling that way. If not, then I am even more happy to hear so and want to help you shine even brighter than you already do!
There is something to be said for the power of believing. Otherwise we'd never have so many books about it.
Merry Christmas everyone.
-Doug Knuth
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