Post Sixty-Five

ON PAYING ATTENTION

Every so often a movie comes along that clarifies something for me that has needed clarification. Collateral Beauty is such a movie. Movie critics are not impressed. They are generally unimpressed with movies that are steeped in symbolism or movies that deliver a message the critics believe should be obvious to everyone. But I regard beautiful movies that put me back in touch with important truths as a gift to my heart. There are times when I need help remembering important things.

Death is certain. Time is fleeting. Love permeates everything - even the most difficult of experiences. In the five years since Terry's death I have had to relearn this lesson many times. My first response to her loss was to deny the new reality and continue living in the past. This recent presidential election has shown us that grief can also come to those who are confronted with other types of disruptive change. A changing economy has caused many to grieve for a world that no longer exists. Donald Trump's backward looking slogan, "Make America Great Again" offers the false promise that he can address their grief by putting things back the way they were - or rather back the way we imagine they were. But there is no going back. Relief for our grief can only be found in accepting the new reality, appreciating the beauty and the love of the past, and anticipating the beauty and the love that is yet to come.

I lose site of this from time to time. That's when a movie such as Collateral Beauty comes along to remind me of things I already know. Death is certain. Time is fleeting. Love permeates everything for those who have eyes to perceive it. 

Dave Gladstone