Eat Pray Love

I'm sorry about the hiatus, but I'M BACK! And what a movie to start with. Although this could be considered a "chick-flick" I prefer to call it a "real life quest".

Genre: Drama and Adaptation
Run time: 2 hrs, 13 min
Rating: PG-13 for brief strong language, some sexual references and male rear nudity
Starring: Julia Roberts, James Franco, Javier Bardem, Richard Jenkins, Viola Davis, Billy Crudup
Synopsis: Liz Gilbert had everything a modern woman is supposed to dream of having -- a husband, a house, a successful career -- yet like so many others, she found herself lost, confused, and searching for what she really wanted in life. Newly divorced and at a crossroads, Gilbert steps out of her comfort zone, risking everything to change her life, embarking on a journey around the world that becomes a quest for self-discovery. In her travels, she discovers the true pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy; the power of prayer in India, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of true love in Bali.

Although Liz Gilbert's (Roberts) mention of God is brief, the entire movie is her journey to a deeper understanding of life, God, and spirituality. Despite the obvious leanings toward Eastern religions, I found that much of what Gilbert discovered on her quest could be applied to any and all religions, including Christianity.

The idea of enjoying life is the first lesson that Gilbert learns during her time in Italy. While in Italy, she learns to enjoy food, to take a break from life/stress, and to enjoy life as she's been given. By the end of her stay, she has discovered a passion for life that many in the West have lost in the midst of work and entertainment.

The next stop on Gilbert's quest is India, where she lives in an Ashram and attempts to meditate and pray. I could personally understand her problems with meditation...I find it so difficult to shut off my brain and focus on one single thought, idea, or even Bible verse. But more than the focus on prayer and meditation, there were two things that I found pertinent to this section of the movie. 1) Gilbert was adamantly told by another member of the ashram, that it wasn't her job to forgive her husband or hope that he could forgive her, instead she had to forgive herself. How many of us have this problem? We know in our heads that God has forgiven us, but we don't feel forgiven and we can't forget what we've done. Part of the forgiveness process is learning to forgive ourselves. 2) Just before leaving India, Gilbert comes to a profound realization: God doesn't expect a specific type of research, or a strict form of behavior, instead God meets us where we are and uses us how we are.


Finally, on the last leg of her trip, Gilbert continues her study of balance and meditation in Bali, only to discover that true healing only comes through love. As Christians, we are deeply aware of this fact, for had it not been the love of God, we would not have had the opportunity for reconciliation with Him. "For God so loved the world..."


So...the four things that I walked away from this movie with are 1) enjoy the life that God has given us, take time to enjoy it; 2) we must forgive ourselves before we forgive ourselves before we can hope to forgive others; 3) God works in mysterious ways, we should not limit Him to certain times, places, or activities; and 4) LOVE is everything!


I highly recommend this movie to everyone, but especially to those who are on a similar journey...