Traditions start to ramp up in the Eversmann household this time of year. I like tradition. Tradition transports us back to a simpler time, whisks us back to the unencumbered joys of youth and the quiet moments of our own lives. Traditions such as the Blessing of the Hounds, boxes of decorations moving from our garage into the living room, Advent calendars, Christmas night parties, and yuletide cheer.
One cherished tradition is our annual viewing of “The Bishop’s Wife”. Though disguised in Christmas trappings, the film is about human frailty, thwarted ambition, and the humble rewards that accompany doing the right thing. The 1947 film boasts a stellar cast (Loretta Young, Cary Grant, David Niven, Monty Wooley), and even with some wholesome Christmas tropes has all the elements that make a timeless piece of art, as well as some factoids worth noting:
-David Niven was originally cast as the angel and Cary Grant cast as the bishop.
-It is the only film that Cary Grant stars in where he doesn’t kiss the leading lady.
-Although set during the Christmas season, it was not originally billed as a Christmas movie.
There are more but they aren’t the point of this missive.
“The Bishop’s Wife” is perhaps one of my favorite films regardless of what time of year it is. I could rhapsodize over the importance of this piece of work that fosters such an imperative theme as human frailty and the all important habit of living on purpose. As such, I suggested that Matt and I watch it the other night instead of waiting until Christmas. The theme of human frailty and living on purpose feels prescient right now.
The Bishop’s homily at the end summarizes my thoughts as we head to Thanksgiving. If you have not seen this movie, put it straight to top of your list.
I am eager to write this short essay on what makes us beautiful humans even if fraught with frailty. The natural state of beautiful humanity is joy, peace, and love. Beautiful humanity is about our purpose – our why, not our identity – our what.
When we connect thinking and doing with laser-like focus we are actively living on purpose. Our mission is clear and there is no deviation. As my mentor taught me, action after alignment. Alignment with Spirit and what we believe Spirit calls us to be in this flesh. When we live according to what we believe and there’s congruency in that belief, we have the possibility to live a powerful, impactful life.
When we focus on universal issues, such as what is true, what is good, and what is beautiful instead of the immediate stream of ordinary life and busyness that distracts 97% of us, when we set our mind on things above, we live as proactively beautiful humans. This active discipline helps us not be distracted by the enchantment that we so easily fall prey to because of the fear porn culture found in the 24-hour news cycle or people who are famous for doing nothing on social media. When we focus on those things, we become anxious and depressed. We do not feel safe.
Instead focus on the universal, the beautiful, the good, the true, merit, and liberty.
When we are humbled by time spent in beautiful places and books or essays read that make us think and consider the implications of what we’ve read, we escape the darkness of depression and anxiety. Beautiful humanity is about making time to gaze at the stars, to observe a flower, find a sunbeam, listen to a piece of music that moves us, spend time outside in the sunshine and breath fresh air, and to express gratitude for what The Creator made. It is about taking a moment to pause and smile with thanks at the cashier at the grocery store or choosing civility when we could be dismissively rude.
When we explore real science and the wonder of the earth and the heavens.
When we love The Divine with our mind using logic and critical thinking instead of conforming to the pack, when we have a sense of humor and remember to appreciate wit and cleverness. When we laugh so hard we feel The Divine tickling us. There is immense importance to recover habits that enable us to change the architecture of our lives and lift our eyes to see beautiful humanity.
This is Thanksgiving.
The habit of gratitude requires us to act on purpose versus passively living mired in the looping thought tapes that fuel shame, anger, guilt, past, and pain – that drives us to have identities that may not serve us any longer. That looping tape that makes us feel like our mind is eating itself alive instead of living on purpose. The tape seduces us into temptation. Temptation is the opposite of Thanksgiving.
This Thanksgiving I invite you to make time, even if it is five-minutes, to cease the habit of passive thought, the temptation to think for hours about the plight of fill-in-the-blank, but doing nothing about fill-in-the-blank. Those thoughts are a distraction from proactive purpose. Take five-minutes at least to consider what you are grateful for. Perhaps write down your gratitude or be courageous and tell someone you may feel anxious about how grateful you are that he or she is in your life.
Like the homily in The Bishop’s Wife, let us remember the spark that shines within each and every one of us that keeps the peace, joy, and love of beautiful humanity is our purpose.
The kingdom of God is this enormous, complicated, beautiful, joyful dance.
Let’s dance.
Let us give thanks for the dance.
“Let us ask ourselves what He would wish for most.
And then, let each put in his share, loving kindness, warm hearts, and a stretched out hand of tolerance. All the shining gifts that make peace on earth.”
~ Bishop Henry Broughm from “The Bishop’s Wife”
We also enjoy that movie Tori😊👍. Very well written💕