I wanted to watch this movie as soon as I heard it was coming out. I heard that the book was good, and it seemed very much up my alley. Eating, Praying and Loving….how can it get better than that. I finally got the opportunity to watch the movie the other night and it has really had me thinking a lot about my life and what I truly want from it. I felt like I could relate to the main character, (not so much in the divorce thing, although I have been in horrendous relationships that have ended in sadness and despair). What I really connected with though was the holistic approach to finding herself and it made me think about the ways in which we try and find ourselves and how I am, in this very moment and every moment of my life, trying to find myself. There\’s a true deepness to the desires and needs of the soul that need serious attention. We are in constant need of growth. We are in constant need of both God and the physical world and most importantly the way to balance these seemingly two contradictory things. That\’s what this movie was all about. That\’s what the book is all about (which I have since bought at Half-Price Books and am currently reading.)
I think what really spoke to me has been the exploration of life and God and myself. At this point in time, like so many times in the past, I am having to navigate through uncharted waters and seriously having to decide where my life will go. Discerning that path is an ultra-important step to self-discovery and education which I personally believe is ultra-important. I need to answer life\’s biggest questions (or at least ask those questions sincerely). Who am I? What do I want? What do I want to do? What\’s the point? How do I live in this world? Who\’s God? How can I connect to the world? What is my path? What do I believe in?
These questions are no-doubt huge. I will probably never fully be able to answer them. However, the part of my heart that longs to be closer to God, to my family, to by friends, to my love, to myself, to the world inspires me to search and try. These thoughts have been consuming my head for the last several days. I\’ve wanted to be alone with my thoughts. I\’ve wanted to relive the last several years of my life to try and make sense of my journey. I\’ve wanted to be truly and recklessly free. I have always been a bit on the unconventional side when it comes to spirituality (which is ironic, because I am a practicing Roman Catholic which seems like the most conventional of all religions). However, my spirituality within my religious practices focuses more on organic whole-ism that incorporates a variety of spiritual flavors from which I like to choose. My religion is Catholicism. My spirituality is Karenism.
All I really know is that I am in great need of a journey. Through the current situation in my life, I need direction and a place to go. I might not be able to take a year and explore three different countries, but I need to do something. I don\’t know what exactly, but my heart needs that right now. The last 2-3 years, I have been in formation. My life changed dramatically. I had no time to reflect on it, because I was in the midst of living it. The time has now come to listen to my life and find the guidance that I so desperately need. Only then will I be able to recognize the peace that God gives his weary children.
I leave you with a comforting excerpt from Eat, Pray, Love that puts God\’s love in a very real and tangible expression. Be inspired.
\”I\’m here. I love you. I don\’t care if you need to stay up crying all night long, I will stay with you. If you need the medication again, go ahead and take it-I will love you through that as well. If you don\’t need the medication, I will love you, too. There\’s nothing you can ever do to lose my love, I will protect you until you die, and after your death I will still protect you. I am stronger than Depression and I am braver than Lonliness and nothing will ever exhaust me.\” – Elizabeth Gilbert Eat Pray Love