Maleficent - Is 'True Love' an attainable reality or just another heart-breaking fallacy?

Yesterday I had the joy of watching 'Maleficent' with one of my besties. Oh, before I proceed, please stop reading this if you intend on saving yourself from spoilers!

In my opinion, 'Maleficent' is yet another Disney classic; it retells 'Sleeping Beauty' from the villain's perspective. Maleficent is played by the flawless beauty, Angelina Jolie - who is striking in appearance and performance throughout the film. We get a glimpse of this supposedly evil fairy's past, exploring the reasons that led to the darkening of her previously pure heart and the resulting irrevocable, ruthless spell on an innocent baby Princess Aurora (played by the angelic Elle Fanning). It is a tale of many themes, all pertaining to the human nature. One such theme was 'True Love'.

I was honestly surprised! Throughout the years, Disney has fed many little girls the concept of 'True Love', implying that they ought to portray themselves as damsels in distress in hope that their Prince Charming would come riding on a white horse, to carry them away into the sunset to a land of happily-ever-afters. This film is different. It promises no such thing, in fact the characters mention at least twice that, 'There is no such thing as True Love' - a statement that is filled with despair, hurt and just sadness. That made me wonder if there really was such a thing, or are we just fooling ourselves...

BEWARE - here's where I might spoil a bit of the film for you! Maleficent casts a spell on the little princess that she'll prick her finger on a spindle needle and 'fall into a sleep like death', which can only be awoken by the 'True Love's Kiss'. The catch however, is that Maleficent and King Stefan - who were past lovers separated by betrayal fuelled by material greed - knew there was no such thing. However, as Maleficent watches Aurora grow and mature, she cares for and loves the girl - she regrets her impulsive spell and tries vigorously to revoke it, but to no avail. As the young princess lay helplessly asleep, not even awoken by a prince's kiss, I looked around, as I do, and saw that almost everyone around me was as shocked as I was. A remorseful Maleficent then speaks to Aurora through her tears, promising her the utmost care and kisses her forehead...and, yes you guessed it, the Sleeping Beauty wakes up!

Intrigued, I reflected on this twist on my journey home. The reason why it was initially portrayed that 'True Love' was non-existent was because the human heart - tainted by greed, lust, self-importance and hatred - is incompetent to express such a delicate, pure and sacred entity; the movie refers to this as the 'great evil in the world', and rightly so. Careful assessment would reveal that the human nature is only to blame for every war that has ever marred history. From wise Solomon to persevering Paul, we repeatedly hear warnings to guard our hearts, and not be led by the desires of the flesh, why so? Our hearts, whether we want to admit it or not, are storehouses of everything sinful, with even the most charitable deed corrupted by a hint of selfishness. Many spend their lifetime searching for love, success or something that completes them, satisfies their inmost being but fall disappointed time and again because what they acquire is often incomplete.

As Aurora opens her eyes, Maleficent's servant Diaval exclaims that there is in fact something called 'True Love' - a scene where I could not help but reflect theologically! Maleficent, was Aurora's fairy godmother - the bond between them reminded me of our relationship with God. Apart from vengeance driven by hurt, the evil fairy had a pure heart, but God is the epitome of purity, holiness and all goodness.  The love that resonated from this pure heart was the much coveted 'True Love'; it was powerful enough to break the spell - how much purer, how much truer, the love that flows from the throne of God! God's 'True Love' is the truest of all, it led Him to the Cross and thus has the power to break the spell of sin that binds our hearts and human nature. What a beautiful but unintentional parallel! C.S. Lewis depicts this with great brevity, 'It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak...we are far too easily pleased with lesser things than Him'

I believe 'True Love' is a reality, but a reality that we are incompetent to express. Only God has the power, purity and credibility to express it and faithfully persist in it; we shall be disappointed if we pursue it elsewhere. Take heart however, for those who trust in Him are empowered by Him to express a fraction of this magical love as long as we live on this side of Heaven.
I hope I've given you some food for thought, and watch 'Maleficent' for yourselves to ponder further on related themes. Who knew a children's movie could be so philosophical!

Jar of Gratitude

Discontentment is something I believe all of us struggle with - whether it be a position, status, person, emotion or object, we can long for or covet after absolutely anything. While using one's success to inspire us to strive for something similar is admirable, allowing it to fill us with emptiness and dissatisfaction is not.

I recently found myself falling into the pit of only-if-I-hads! My discontentment blinded my eyes to the privileges and blessings I enjoy. It went from bad to worse. People say, "Look at those less fortunate than yourself." - that used to work but not anymore. I have become immune to such comparative therapies; I begin reasoning with myself that everyone lives a different life and hence give myself a license to sulk with self-pity. This did not spur me on to achieve greater things, it drained me to the point of conscious and stubborn laziness...that is when the penny finally dropped!

A tweet popped up on my Twitter feed about recording something that you're grateful for each day, a point that resonated from the sermon on Sunday. That was it! I looked around for ideas to make this task fun and memorable:

Jar of Gratitude
Leave it in a prominent place in your room, preferably on your bedside table. At the end of each day, take a small piece of paper and make a note of one thing that made you smile or breathe a sigh of relief.

Board of Thankfulness
This needs a little wall space and a lot of sticky notes.

All you need is a bit of inspiration! I neither have a jar nor a board, instead I used an old chocolate container to make a 'Box of Gratitude'

Box of Gratitude

Doesn't matter how, but I invite you to join me in recording your often forgotten blessings. It not only preserves you from debilitating discontentment, it also offers you something to fondly look back on, in the near or distant future.
Every day, no matter how bleak, has a silver lining that makes us stop and breathe or even smile - a gorgeous sunrise, a supportive friend, a good night's sleep or even just relief to have gotten through the day. I know it is not always easy to look past dismay, but it is not an impossible task either. I am not implying that we disguise our sorrows, far from it; amidst the blitz, forage for that hint of comfort or joy that pushes you forward.
Paul certainly had a point when he said, 'Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.' - if you weren't already tempted by the opportunity to put your creative hats on, I bet the latter part of this verse made my argument doubly convincing!

I guess it's settled then - there is no right or wrong way to be grateful, except to be ungrateful!

Discovering God in Genetics

I am currently working my way through Krish Kandiah's study, 'FRESH' - it is aimed at Christian university students. It has helped me discover a lot, not only as a Christian and a student but also as a daughter and a friend. Although it is aimed at those beginning their first year, I would recommend it to every Christian at university. It is filled with relatable anecdotes and thought provoking challenges, one of which was to write about how I plan to discover God in my chosen field of study - in this post, I shall try to do just that.

This question isn't new, it has consumed me numerous times. Over this academic year, I have been trying to ascertain how my Christianity ought to impact my pursuit in science. With studies that suggest that religious people are less intelligent than those that aren't, and theories that are so contrary to what the Bible states, it seems almost impossible in this day and age to call myself both a Christian and a Scientist.

With much thought to this I have realised that I wrongly equated my Christianity with my passion for science; I confused my identity with my vocation. Am I separating these two important spheres? Certainly not, in fact the contrary is true.  As a Christian, my scientific vocation ought to glorify God - my conclusions need to be unbiased and my research, built on the evidence at hand.

The past few centuries have wrongly projected science and Christianity as irreconcilable entities - all because people felt the need to blame something for the views and philosophies they held dear. Christianity affects world-views, and rightly so, however science does not and cannot. The Oxford dictionary defines 'science' as the 'intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.' I know that I do not need a definition to show you that science is empirical; world-views and philosophies cannot be attributed to such tangibility.

I have learnt therefore that my relationship with God does not impede my scientific pursuit, but it drives it. You see, the Bible was never intended to be a science text book, far from it. To compare it to one, would in my opinion be wrong and demeaning; the Bible possesses a nobler purpose, to help one understand the attributes of God and how to be reconciled to Him in light of their sinfulness. Science and Christianity answer different questions, to deny this fact is what impedes knowledge, or worse, promotes false knowledge.

My area of study is Medical Genetics. From a single base in the DNA to its ability to regulate key processes throughout the body, every intricacy points me to God with ever increasing awe. A scientist is much like a sailor trying to reach the horizon, just when he thinks he has sailed enough, he realises it is not so; his journey to that point is by no means unpleasant or in vain.
I have also realised that scientific knowledge is limited. God is the author of life (I am not sure if any of us can define 'life') and the orchestrator of the universe. Science is not a pursuit to disprove His existence or unveil His identity (such matters are beyond its scope), instead it is a quest to discover an iota of all that was involved in God putting together this mind-blowing cosmos and everything in it.

Some of the greatest scientific minds were Christians or theists - Sir Isaac Newton, Johannes Kepler, William Harvey - name it! Closer to my field, I respect and admire Dr. Francis Collins. None of these minds found the need to neglect God to accomplish much for science, but they glorified Him through their achievements. Isn't that enough inspiration to spur us on!

In light of all this, it feels appropriate to end by quoting one of my Genetics lecturers,

'What is life? That is a question you address, not with your head, but with your heart.' 

For more on FRESH, check out: http://www.freshspace.org/

Freedom? Justice? Equality? Tolerance?

Freedom. Justice. Equality. Tolerance.

Everyday words that we take for granted and liberally dish out with little thought to what they truly mean. It bothers me to know that this generation has fallen prey to what I call the 'popular-word-bias' - when society adapts a word and embellishes it with various implicit connotations that the usage of it becomes meaningless, yet dangerous!

I'll stop beating around the bush and blurt out the fact that I am in fact addressing the issue of homosexuality, same-sex marriage in particular. I am not writing this to voice my stance on it, or convince you of what I believe - you might know what I believe, or like some you might wrongly label me a bigoted homophobe - my friend, you are free to believe what you want! I am writing this with one agenda, to highlight this society's ignorant misconceptions.

'Freedom of expression', 'freedom of speech', are some of many human-rights jargon that flood media outlets but few understand what they mean. It appears to me that one is entitled to express his opinion or belief only if it complements the majority. I am saddened by news articles that condemn open-air preachers for simply stating what the Bible says on this matter. (Let me make this clear that I do not speak for those preaching hatred, and I mean, preaching HATRED!) It troubled me to see believers (not just Christians) being ridiculed for their stance.
Is that what freedom is?
If freedom permits one to say 'Aye', should it not also permit the other to say 'Nay'?

I applaud the government and our justice systems for taking hatred seriously and dealing with it appropriately. However I am appalled by the fact that its measures are concentrated on preventing hatred towards the proposition, while hatred towards the opposition not only goes unnoticed, but is trivialised. Justice is symbolised by scales, but our practise of it seriously skews it.
Does that seem fair to you?

We are equal, all of us, regardless of our opinions, races, sexual preferences, political views, name it! Equality runs both ways though, you cannot just emphasise that society ought to embrace change, you've got to be mindful and empathetic towards those who do not wish to conform to this change. As one of my wise best friends says, 'Agree to disagree.' Equality means treating those who practise homosexuality with love, acceptance and respect; it also means treating those who may oppose homosexuality with the same love, acceptance and respect. A difference in opinion is not a personal attack - one does not hate people who practise homosexuality or people who oppose it - it is merely an expression of varied ideologies.
Who says that's wrong? Values matter to an individual, never try to trivialise or ridicule them, instead respect and make room for intellectually stimulating discussions. Every century accommodated people who adhered to varied ideologies, and they got on fine on a personal level!

Finally, tolerance. The dictionary defines tolerance as, 'the ability or willingness to endure the existence of opinions or behaviour that one dislikes or disagrees with.' 
Tolerating means 'enduring', putting up with something; tolerance does not demand or require agreement. Any issue, even the least controversial, splits opinions and there is nothing intolerant about disagreeing. With a lot of Christians (and members of other faiths) being labelled 'intolerant' for their stance, I wonder, wouldn't that same usage of the word apply vice versa? By labelling a Christian intolerant for disagreeing with homosexuality, aren't you implying that a Christian could label a proponent of homosexuality 'intolerant', on the basis that they disagree with tthe Bible?

Think! Before you use any of these terms, think! The illogical, mindless, rash usage of these terms has hurt many - proponents and opponents alike. While we are seeking to build bridges between various members of the community, such practises burn them down to nothing. I do not deny the fact that there are those with extreme views on either side, and I do not condone them, far from it! All I want to see is fair judgement and freedom to have a mature discussion.

Open Doors Blackout

My decision to join Blackout was down to one video I stumbled upon - Fatima's story.

I could immediately relate to Fatima - she loved God and blogged about it. However soon I realised that my initial assumption, was so wrong - while the worst response I have ever received was an insult, she endured so much more; Fatima lived in an environment that was so harsh to Christianity that she received death threats. My response to these insults were a greater level of cautiousness as I toned down my posts, but she was resilient, fearless, unashamed and did not compromise her belief in Jesus Christ for acceptance or safety. As her tragic story came to an end, Fatima's words echoed in my ears , 'I am unto death, a Christian'. These words challenged me - Fatima stayed faithful till the end, would I do the same?

I have it easy. I enjoy the freedom of religious expression to a certain extent, however I am increasingly aware of the fact that I, am part of a minority. Hence, my friend and I decided to jump on board the Blackout waggon by abstaining from social media for the weekend.

Frankly, it was harder than I thought! The urge to procrastinate, the need to check my notifications and inform myself about others' business, was all too overwhelming. I was at the brink of giving up when I remembered the sacrifices these Christians made for the sake of the Gospel. Their sacrifice demeaned my meaningless, petty social media fast into a 'non-sacrifice'!
What a slap on the face!

Not only that, the Blackout made people question. As a pair, we decided to announce on our social media platforms what and why we are doing this. Friends, both Christian and non-Christian responded - some, just curious, while others gave us a nod of approval.
It truly surprised me to find out that many were oblivious to the level of persecution Christians face. Conversations elucidated the lack of media coverage on such matters - with celebrity gossip headlining numerous reputed newspapers, this comes as no surprise! We plunged into this aiming to educate and equip people to support the persecuted church, with the response shown, I believe we ticked off that box.

Most importantly, the time I once thought I didn't have for prayers and quiet times because I was just 'too busy', appeared from no where. It gave me time to stand one in spirit with the persecuted church. As I reflected on what drove and sustained them through torture, torment and death, the words from a song by Nathan Tasker came to mind,

For a moment there is sorrow, for a moment suffering

but I have seen my tomorrow, and I know where I'm gonna be.

I'll be like a bird set free.

'Cause in the end, I'm going home

I'll go to glory, on Heaven's shores

and as I'm dying, my soul will soar

'cause in the end I know I'm going home

The church has faced persecution for centuries, yet it has stood the test of time - because of its hope in an eternity spent with the Savior. 

Hebrews 13:3 reminds us to 'Continue to remember those in prison as if [we] were together with them in prison, and those who are ill-treated as if [we ourselves] were suffering.' Blacking out has helped me acknowledge the fact that although we might live across the ocean on different continents, oblivious to each other's existence, in Christ we are united, we bear the same cross. Hence it is our duty to support them. If we don't support the church, who will!

Ways in which you can support the persecuted church:

1. Pray  - in the words of Oswald Chambers, 'Prayer doesn't fit us for the greater work, prayer is the greater work'. If lost, find prayer guides to help you.
2. Check out Open Doors and Voice of Martyrs to educate yourself.
3. You can financially support organisations that work for and with the persecuted church - e.g. If you live in the UK and wish to support Open Doors, just text BLKT14 £_(amount you'd like to give)_ to 70070

Let us forever be reminded that these Christians were so convicted by their trust in Jesus that they shook off all apathy to actively serve the Lord. 

That is what Christianity is all about.
That is the kind of Christianity I pray we in the west, revert to.
Whatever the level of persecution we might face on this earth, may we have the courage to join Fatima in saying, 'I am unto death, a Christian.'