For some odd reason I have been reflecting back on a movie I haven't seen in, oh, at least thirty years, but which left a strong impression on me. I speak of a movie which came out in my childhood (but my religious family never went to see movies in theaters because they were thought of as "worldly" establishments), although I never saw it until I was a teen and caught it on the late movie. The movie is 7 Faces Of Dr. Lao, starring the versatile Tony Randall in the lead role.
In our very high tech age old movies have lost their appeal to many folks, computerized special effects having raised the bar so high that the older stuff is thought not to measure up. This is totally wrong, I believe, if you have retained the ability to use your mind to fill in gaps and to look beyond mere forests to search for the trees. If you have never seen this movie, I urge you watch it the first chance you get.
There is a quote in the movie, spoken by Randall as Dr. Lao, that always stayed with me and has a deep, abiding specialness to me. Whenever I hear someone speaking about life in general or some aspect of life as a circus (which is quite often, actually), I think of this:
The whole world is a circus if you know how to look at it. The way the sun goes down when you're tired, comes up when you want to be on the move. That's real magic. The way a leaf grows. The song of the birds. The way the desert looks at night, with the moon embracing it. Oh, my boy, that's… that's circus enough for anyone. Every time you watch a rainbow and feel wonder in your heart. Every time you pick up a handful of dust, and see not the dust, but a mystery, a marvel, there in your hand. Every time you stop and think, "I'm alive, and being alive is fantastic!" Every time such a thing happens, you're part of the Circus of Dr. Lao.
And I suppose I have become more inclined to find meaning in the life I live instead of spending my time searching for "the meaning of life." Life is a circus, and more often than not I find myself in total awe of it.
9 comments:
And I do not try to find meaning in the life I have. I PUT meaning in it. I believe THAT is the best way to spend our days.
Diane - Meaning in this context is extremely personal. I fail to discern a difference between our positions.
I agree. (with both of you - lol). Sometimes searching for something you will never find should be put aside so that you enjoy that which you have. by looking for meaning in your own life, you can thus find ways of making your own life meaningful (putting meaning in your life).
Also agree with the post regarding how this generation is missing out on some of the old movies that required imagination. Yes, they didn't have the wow look at those special effects, but there were a lot of timeless movies out there. I think that is one reason I often don't like a movie that is based on a book that I have read. I prefer using my own imagination to fill out the scenes and the charactrers, and sometimes the movies fall short.
Enjoy your blog btw. Very thought provoking and inciteful!
Answer me this you two smarties - compared to me, that is - What are the isms doing of not putting meaning into life, hmmm?
Oops, didn't mean to imply that you're not a smarty, too, MS Day Dreamer! Just that I was asking Diane and Doug. sry
Day Dreamer - I thank you for your comments. And I'm very glad you enjoy my blog. Yes, I can be inciteful sometimes! LOL.
You know, I have younger friends who won't even watch a movie or classic TV show if they see it's in black and white, as if that has any effect on the quality of content! Newer isn't necessarily better.
Webster - I'm not sure I understand your question, but....
I see myself as just a little. little bitty. bitty part of the cosmos. I came, will be here but a short while, will pass away, and life will go on without me just fine in exactly the same way it got along without me before my arrival.
Meaning? Our lives are what they are. I'm pretty much with Stoics on this one. Ours is to play the parts we were assigned to the best of our abilities. The choosing of those roles in life's great play was not ours. I'm speaking metaphorically here, so don't take me too literally.
Sorry Doug. I mistyped yet again.
I think that religions, or the isms, do their best to put the meaning into life.
But Diane said that she PUTS the meaning into life, and you agreed with her.
So I guess I am turning my question for you into a statement.
This is your meaning:
"Meaning? Our lives are what they are. I'm pretty much with Stoics on this one. Ours is to play the parts we were assigned to the best of our abilities. The choosing of those roles in life's great play was not ours."
Webster - Yes, I guess that is the point of religions: to serve a particular master in a particular manner. I'll pass on that.
I wasn't agreeing with Diane so much as saying that since "meaning" is such a personal thing, I'm not sure we are saying anything different. If putting meaning into one's life is finding the enjoyable aspects and, well, enjoying them and making the most of them, then we agree. If she means something different, perhaps we don't agree. I don't know.
Yes, my statement sums up my perspective on life. I want to be the best Doug I can be.
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