Miss Potter

Today I watched the movie "Miss Potter". It tells the life story of the author and artist Beatrix Potter. Her books were among my favorites as a child and as a "writer" I figured it was probably a story that would captivate me. So, I accepted my mom's recommendation and watched it with her.

I did thoroughly enjoy it, but it made me think about something unexpected...

WARNING: This Contains Spoilers from "Miss Potter". This is a great movie, so feel free to skip this until you have seen it.

I expected the movie to be about a simple artist's triumph, not a love story. And, really, I'm not very sentimental. Most love stories usually don't sweep me off my feet. However, I think the unexpected, simple, and genuine nature of Beatrix's romance hooked me. The look on Norman's face when Beatrix accepted his marriage proposal plastered a goofy joyful smile on my face. Haha. :)

When I saw the story taking a tragic turn, I braced myself. "Oh, this is going to be a sad story," I said to myself. Sure enough, he was gone.

As Beatrix lay utterly broken on the floor in the dark I couldn't help but picture myself there.
My first reaction was, "That seals it. She was perfectly fine until love came along and ruined her life. It is better to remain connected in other ways to life and avoid that kind of heart destruction."

This is a question I wrestle with. Do I really want a man to come into my life whom I will deeply love? Is it really worth the likely heartbreak? Won't I probably end up with my face buried in the carpet for it? Shouldn't I fear love first and foremost?

Then two other phrases came into my mind: "What is love without much risk?" and "We are thankful for the time we have been given."

I know that love is all that matters in life; it's the only thing that lasts and what humans are meant for. But the very essense of love is risk. And that applies to all love, not just romantic love. True love extends itself without conditions of reward, return, or response. It is just an invitation and a gift. How vulnerable that makes the loving heart! But to choose to love is always worth the risk. Now, I feel romantic love is more complicated and elusive than that. However, I know in this area I need to keep reminding myself to trust The One who holds my heart to lead me to good places and to not shut myself off in fear from good gifts from Him. And when trouble comes from this broken world, I'll have to keep reminding myself that He has not only overcome those things, but He has experienced them. He has loved (and loves) with much risk.

As for the second phrase, I am currently standing at a point where I have to choose whether to enter into this risk or not. I don't know what's going to happen. But I've decided a few things. I need to let go and know that I want what He wants. He alone is trustworthy, so I want what He wants. :) Also, I've promised Him that beginning now I will each day be thankful for [and content with] the time I have been given from Him. This is a surprisingly difficult thing to do with sincerity. Maybe that's why it's actually a pretty effective attitude adjuster. When I can bring my heart and mind into alignment with "I want what He wants" and "I am thankful for the time I have been given" it brings me a great deal of peace and joy. *sigh of relief* That makes the unknown and the vulnerability a lot easier to carry. :)

Finally, this connects to lines that stream from my computer speakers right now. "Do you love me enough to let me go? To let me follow through? To let me fall for you?" So for now, I'll keep working on letting go.

And just as a ps...one of the dissatisfactions that I have with the beloved English language is that it provides only one word for love...that and the fact that lightning cannot be turned into a verb. Perhaps future English speakers will remedy this. :)