Sunset Boulevard
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Sunset Boulevard tells the story of Norma Desmond, a former silent film star. When the talking movies came into fashion, she lost her audience. As an older woman, she longed for the glory of her past. In her mind, silent facial expressions alone made a good movie—not dialogue. In the song “With One Look” Norma sings:
Patience Needed
Our flight to Singapore was delayed because of mechanical problems. The 15-minute delay turned into 30 minutes, then 60—and then 3 hours. The ground staff was scrambling to calm the crowd, but people were tired and soon became angry. As the night stretched on, the crowd began to turn into a mob—screaming at the staff with harsh language. The pilot even came to offer encouragement, but the crowd turned on him as well.
The Peace-Of-Mind Game
In her down-to-earth book More Than Sparrows, Mary Welch tells of her discussion about worry with a group of teenagers. Although they were Christians, they were as worried as unbelievers about the common things of life. As she lovingly listened to them, an unusual idea came to her for a game they could play. It went like this:
Changing The World
It’s a full-time job trying to get people to change. Oh, what a perfect world it would be—if only other people would do what we want!
Herd Instinct
Near the village of Gevas in eastern Turkey, while shepherds ate their breakfast, one of their sheep jumped off a 45-foot cliff to its death. Then, as the stunned shepherds looked on, the rest of the flock followed. In all, 1,500 sheep mindlessly stumbled off the cliff. The only good news was that the last 1,000 were cushioned in their fall by the growing woolly pile of those who jumped first. According to The Washington Post, 450 sheep died.
This Is Better
People all over the world are constantly looking for the better item, whether buying fruit in a market or choosing a place to live. We examine, ponder, compare, and finally make a choice based on what we believe is better. I can’t imagine anyone saying, “I’m convinced this one is worse, so I’ll take it.”
An Age-Old Question
When Jeremy was 17, he struggled with a question that theologians have wrestled with for centuries. For him the problem was not theoretical but practical. He was trying to understand why his mother had to have brain surgery. He asked, “Why do good people suffer, Mom?”
Seeking Immortality
At least a dozen multimillionaires have left money to themselves in hope of being brought back to life. These immortality seekers have arranged to be cryogenically frozen after death, reports The Wall Street Journal. They’ve also put their wealth in “personal revival trusts,” which they believe will be waiting for them when scientists resuscitate them in the future.
Celebrating Disappointment
After receiving his second Academy Award, Denzel Washington said to his family, “I told you, if I lost tonight, I’d come home and we’d celebrate. And if I won tonight, I’d come home and we’d celebrate.” Denzel, a Christian, was trusting God, whether in blessing or in disappointment.
