SATURDAY MORNING MUSINGS - THE GOOD SHEPHERD

I remember as a kid always treating every Saturday morning as a huge deal. I had all kinds of energy, and would usually be up nice and early to watch cartoons with my sisters, or (even better) play Nintendo/Sega Genesis- we weren't allowed to play video games during the week, so Saturday morning was usually full of Super Mario Brothers or Sonic the Hedgehog. It seems these days, I take my sweet time in the morning on Saturday, unless I have to be somewhere. The energy is pretty much lacking. I sleep in without setting an alarm, and then I usually stay around in bed to read for a while after waking up. Everyone needs to remember that "waking up" and "getting up" are two entirely different things.

I had an interesting evening last night. Me and John went to see The Good Shepherd, starring Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, Alec Baldwin, Robert DeNiro and others. It was long, but there were some good performances- certainly an interesting directing style by DeNiro. It might not be the movie for you if you're not into government stuff, behind-closed-doors stories.

I was just struck by how much people will sacrifice in the name of power. Watching the life of Edward Wilson (played by Damon), I was reminded that so many people chase after the job and the authority that they desire so badly, and it leaves them empty and unsatisfied. One of the CIA men in the movie told Wilson,

"you won't be able to trust anyone, and you won't have any friends."

And it was so true. Wilson wasn't able to even confide his fears and dreams to his wife, and it spoiled their marriage. I was reminded of why I do what I do, to help change the lives of those who will make the powerful decisions that affect the world, to provide them with something that truly will satisfy.

After the movie me and John met up with Germiko and we hung out at the Gorsebrook for a bit to watch some bands play. On my way home, I was almost at my place when I saw a couple of girls who were being incredibly loud and as I got closer to them I realized that they were incredibly drunk. I was going to quietly retire into my place but then I realized that these girls were a) pretty much lost, and b) bringing a lot of noise to my nice, quiet, peaceful neighbourhood. I said a quick prayer asking that nothing sketch would happen, and approached the girls to offer them some help.

They asked me if I knew where Mike Cameron's house was. I figured they'd be too drunk to understand that Mike Cameron is an outfielder for the San Diego Padres, and that he probably lives in California (actually, I doubt that they would have cared even if they weren't drunk). I offered to help them get back to Dal to make sure they made it there safely, but they were trying to get to some bar. So I offered to walk with them to a main road where they could get a cab, but I kept strongly encouraging them to head back to Dal. In the end, they got a cab and headed off to the bar.

In some ways I wish I had been more firm and adamant that they head back to res to sleep it off, but I hope that in some small way, God might have used my willingness to help them to reveal Himself to them, in spite of their drunkenness. My heart totally went out to these two girls, simply seeing how pretty much harassed and helpless they were- definitely lacking a good shepherd. I was again reminded of why I do what I do. Seeing God work in students' lives and seeing lives transformed by the power of the gospel is such an amazing thing.

It just hurts sometimes to see the other side of things, whether that's a "powerful" CIA man who has no joy in his life, or two first-years who think that being drunk on a Friday night is the most satisfying thing out there. I wonder how much more it hurts the Lord.