No I didn’t get the title of this blog wrong. Read on…
Today I saw the movie Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, based on a memoir by author, Elizabeth Gilbert. I can’t help but think that Gilbert didn’t have to travel across the world to find “everything.” What if she had stayed home and PRAYED to God, found the LOVE of her life in Jesus, and then took a really fun EATING trip? Maybe she would have found that elusive “everything she was searching for so desperately and probably enjoyed her trip even more.
In interviews, Julia Roberts who plays Gilbert, says that she persoally became “very intrigued by and interested in” Hinduism from a picture she saw of a “guru” who had long been dead. What if she became very intrigued by and interested in God who is very much alive!
In referrring to seeing the guru’s picture, Julia summarized every Christian’s opportunity to tell someone the truth about Jesus: “That is the way things come into our lifes. They are not these big gate-crashing moments; it is just a little like. . . what is this about?” You may find yourself in conversations nd discussions regarding this popular movie and book, and like Julia, many will be asking: “What is this about?” Don’t miss the chance to share Who you pray to and how you found unconditional love in Jesus.
Julia Roberts is a charming actress and she can make the type of search Gilbert went on look very appealing. But even though she found love, she never found the only True Love, Jesus Christ, and you don’t have to search far to find Him.
Amen and thank you for your insightful post. I heard you today on Midday and thought you were wonderful.
Just heard you on the radio and looked up your link on Moody’s page. 🙂
Thanks for this! What a great way, like you said, to engage a ferociously hungry culture.
In our ladies’ Bible study this year, we’re going to have a once-a-month chance to share ways of representing Jesus’ reign to/within our community. I’m going to suggest your post to our director as a great way to kick off the year. 🙂
Thank you for confirming my gut feeling as I read this book. Since it was given to me by a good Christian friend, I thought there should be something redeeming about it. Like the devil’s usual work, the book was charming in lots of ways but I became more and more disillusioned and had to force myself to read on. I’m now on the Indonesia chapter and find myself talking to Elizabeth to try and convince her that her path is false. Then I remind myself that we have a great and faithful God, who is the Hound of Heaven. If Elizabeth is truely still seeking and staying open to “hearing”, then her journey will not be over until she comes to Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.Right now our society seems to be very enamored with everything “Eastern”, but as with all fads this too shall pass. I pray that we all continue to stay grounded in the word, so we can help our family/friends to see the ease with which the devil can take hold of our hearts & our pocketbooks!
Thank you for your comments. I’m glad you enjoyed the interview. As Christians, we need to pray for discernment because Satan’s favorite trick is to desensitize us.