I just finished watching the new Nancy Drew movie (I know it’s a kids movie, but why do I always learn my most valuable life lessons from kid’s movies?). It was everything Nancy Drew should be, with a mystery, excitement, danger, and 50’s clothing. What struck me most about this movie, and I would venture to say what struck most people, though was the fact that no matter what, Nancy always does the right thing. We tend to watch movies like that and brush off the warm fuzzy feeling we get when Nancy sets the world right as just that, a feeling. I would like to contend that it is much more than just a feeling. It is a desire that we, as a culture, have buried so deep beneath excuses, despair, and apathy (and dare I say laziness?) that we have forgotten what it was entirely.
I find myself constantly making excuses for not doing what’s right. “It won’t benefit that person, it will only cause trouble, I need the money, they’ll get over it, it’s actually funny”. On and on. And to my shame, most of the time it is that last excuse, the weakest of them all. Time after time, everyday we are presented with situations where we are asked to, no, where we need to do the right thing. It is time that we dare stand up like the strong people we are and do the right thing. It is a quality we admire so much on film and in story books, but then seem to despise in real life. Shame on you.
Let me be the one to tell you, because I realize how often I do it myself, your excuses are worthless, petty, and a disgrace. They are not amusing nor do they benefit anyone alive, except perhaps yourself. We need to make a conscious effort to stop this! It is a disease that has plagued us for so long that outside of stories we refuse to even recognize what the right thing is! However, thanks to stories, and a deep down, inherent knowledge we know exactly what the right thing is, all we need to do is throw out the self benefitting excuse and do it.
Taking the wrong change is wrong, lying is wrong, stealing (no matter how small or from whom) is wrong, driving faster than the posted speed limit is wrong (even though everyone does it), cheating (whether it be on a test, on homework, or on your wife) is wrong. When will we realize this and live up to the potential that we are born with? Nancy Drew is a child’s story, why is it children are so much more intelligent than we are that they can recognize these things?
I feel like I could cry at my inability to communicate the importance of this and how deep the disease runs. Next time you watch a children’s movie or read a story book, examine yourself against the heros and heroines in the tale. Note how many times they do the right thing when you would have done the easy, or self serving thing. Please, this is important. Do not be deceived by our culture. The only difference between real life and a storybook ending are the choices we make regarding the right thing. Most stories do not end with a prince and a castle, but rather a true friend, a strong passion, and an ability to always do the right thing. Thank you Nancy Drew for reminding us that not only is doing the right thing possible, but it is necessary.
3 comments:
I read a Nancy Drew book once. Just so you know.
The top photograph is a picture of Old Main. Old Main was completed on April 18, 1876, a few months before Colorado became a state. When the University of Colorado opened in 1877, it barely filled Old Main. The entire university was housed there, including classrooms and the living quarters for the president and his family, and the custodian and his wife.
The photo at the bottom, the one you said looks like that theatre, is actually the Norlin Library. The Library is a beautiful building with narrow winding staircases that make me feel academic and floor to ceiling windows (in some areas) with gorgeous, relieving views of the mountains. I think I'll enjoy being in there quite a bit.
You should also know that I had a dream about you. We were back at UCM sitting in Martin 115 waiting with the other grad students for Dr. Herman to start class. He came in and said, "Jon, I know you've always wanted to be a conductor of an orchestra, and I've worked it out for you." He then proceeded to announce that there was a reality tv show for aspiring conductors that was going to begin in a few months and he got you spot on it. He then asked all of us what instruments we could play so that you could practice on us. I volunteered Ryan to play trumpet, too, because he didn't offer anything.
That was it!
Oh, and I want to know if you've decided on your motorcycle or not.
i never read a Nancy Drew book.
This is solid man. Everyone, Christian and non-Christian, humanitarian and...i guess non-humanitarian, should remember that the only way we will really get further as a society, country, and people is by working together and helping one another out.
I would also venture to say it's important to take some small steps before the big ones, even though the big ones (cheating, lying) are important too.
Christ said that we must be trusted with little before we can be trusted with much.
Taking a few minutes to listen to someone who needs it can change someones day, week, and on occasion, their life. Writing someone an encouraging message. Simply making eye contact with someone. Asking how your waitress' day is going. These little things can totally change people, both the giver and the reciever, from the inside.
You have reminded me of this.
I took a huge-ass bike ride today. almost 2 hours! I never ran out of walking paths or bike trails. I even found an alley (no where nearly as cool as the run-down, I heart War alley that you and I found in the 'burg) that's pretty cool. It's all uphill, so I rode up, turned around, and coasted all the way down. But it definitely made me wish you were here so we could go alley-searching while getting back into shape.
Take care, Jonny-boy! Miss ya man!
Ahh...old friend. How are you?
I wanted you to know that I've watching "Firefly" and I'm hooked. And every single STINKING time Mal is on the screen I'm reminded of you. So, I hope that both makes you feel good and creeps you out a little. =)
Hope all is well.
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