Mr and Mrs Smith

Went and saw the new Jollie, Pitt movie Mr and Mrs Smith. The premise is simple, two professional assassins married to each other; but hiding their ‘job’ from each other. A contract is bungled, and then of course the have to kill each other, (needless to say they fall in love with each other, again). One does wonder though, if five (or six) years later, would there relationship be in a similar state.

Not much special about the film. The script isn’t brilliant. A few funny moments, in a film that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Oh, I could read little bits and pieces into it, see, Pitt, lowers his gun first, and another moment, Jollie’s character accidentally hits Pitt, while throwing knives at would be assassins, and of course the metaphor of trying to kill each other, and marriage.

All in all – if you’re in need to a mind free movie, this one’s for you. But it didn’t really leave much of an impression on me.

+ + +

Perfectionism…

Caught this in the paper today, Australia it seems, is turning into a nation of perfectionists.

I wonder if as Christians we suffer from the same issue – recall Matthew 5:48 – Be perfect just as your Heavenly Father is perfect.

Does this give us similarly lofty goals in our Christian walk – paid ministry work, bible study leader, or missionary worker? Likewise, when we look at our Pastors and MTS trainers, we see people who are unlike us. The article makes the link, between those who seek perfection, and low self esteem, it would be interesting having a look at religion and self esteem. The tension, between faith and works, would play in interesting role in this too, tying into to Romans 7, perhaps.

I’ve spoken here before about my thoughts and desires about ministry. There is a lot that appeals to me about working for the church, and teaching people about my Heavenly Father, but having said that, I also have anxiety about whether or not I’m suited to that, and the “burden” of faithfully working out, and teaching the Word of God.

Another curiosity I have about the University ministry is do we push people into MTS, or and make paid-ministry into a lofty goal.

But moving away from the church, our society too seeks perfection – cosmetically, consider the number of renovation shows (be it makeover of appearance, of your home, of your garden), but all of which fail to deal with the roots of what is making us unhappy.

Ok, lets say Australia is turning into a nation of perfectionists, driven to accumulate maximum wealth and achieve increasingly lofty goals – [And perhaps, we as Christians are likewise pushing people to consider ministry as the lofty goal, and all else – secondary].

‘Identifying the tendency is a very helpful thing. Challenge it, resistance isn't futile.’

+ + +

Was reminded about why I love sport. Last night, Bangladesh beat Australia in a game of cricket. Yes it was 50 overs, but still, given all the talk on the radio was that Australia would annihilate Bangladesh, it is an incredible result. As is the fact Australia’s soccer team could score 5 goals, and fail to win a game (true, the games were against Germany, and Argentina).