Eat.Pray.Love.

A couple of weeks ago Matt and I went to see Eat Pray Love. I have read the book- I was a fan. I was not however a fan of the movie. It missed the essence of growth and... joy in the process such a pivotal time. I was also sad that they changed part of the book in that after writing a break up, final email to her love the movie did not include the very wonderful response her ex-boyfriend responded with. In the movie it plays that she receives a phone call and the tone of which was not at all what happened in the book. I think of all the discrepancies that was my most frustrating one.

In the book, she writes to him,

"That maybe its time to address that it will never happen, that it should never happen... If you want to look for another partner in your life, of course you have nothing but my blessings."...

He responds to her, "But we are not what the other one needs, he says. Still he is certain that I will find great love in my life someday. He's sure of it. After all, he says, "Beauty attracts Beauty".

I am sad that in the movie it did not include such a wonderful exchange, but more then that that they changed the tone altogether. I had scribbled down favorite quotes in my Moleskine and from time to time have returned back to the section that I wrote down the thoughts. Here a few of them are:

"I will not harbor unhealthy thoughts anymore. A harbor of course is a place of refuge, a port of entry. I pictured the harbor of my mind, a little beat up perhaps. A little storm worn, but well situated and with a nice depth. The harbor of my mind is an open bay, the only access to the island of myself (which is a young and volcanic island, yes, but fertile and promising). This island has been through some wars it is true, but it is now committed to peace, under a new leader (me) who has instituted new policies to protect the place. and now- let the word go out across the seas there are much, much stricter laws on the books who may enter this harbor. You may not come here anymore with your hard and abusive thoughts, with your plague ships of thoughts, with your slave ships of thoughts, all these will be turned away. Likewise any thoughts that are filled with angry or starving exiles, with malcontents and pampleteers, mutineers, and violent assassins, prostitutes, pimps and seditious stowaways you may not come here anymore either. Even missionaries will be screened carefully for sincerity. This is a peaceful harbor in the entryway to a fine and proud island that is only now beginning to cultivate tranquility. If you can abide by these new laws, my dear thoughts then you are welcome in my mind- otherwise I shall turn back toward the sea where you came. That is my mission and it will never end."

"There are only 2 questions that human beings have ever fought over, all through history. How much do you love me? And who's in charge? Everything else is somehow manageable. But these 2 questions of love and control undo us all, trip us up and cause war, grief and suffering."

"Look back on this moment of your life as such a sweet time of grieving. You'll see that you were in mourning and your heart was broken, but your life was changing and you were in the best possible place in the world for it- in a beautiful place of worship surrounded by grace. Take this time, every minute of it." (this reminds me so tenderly of China, Europe, and all of the amazing places I've been in which I have been able to see and touch Christ in amazing ways)