I think we've all seen "The Incredibles". It's fun, it's funny, and it's not only for kids. I've seen it many times, but this time some things really stood out to me. I don't normally find deep meanings or life examples in movies. But this time, I think I did. So bear with me if it comes out a little corny!:)
Superheroes are special. They have a power that no one else does, that no ordinary human could possibly have. It's a gift. Others can try to have this gift, or at least pretend to have it through tricks and creativity. This is what Syndrome tried to do, isn't it? But it was all a farse. His mask was fake and useless because it hid nothing of the real him...isn't that why superheroes wear masks? As a disguise? All of Syndrome's powers were self-made, defeatable, unnatural, and for purely selfish reasons. The only gift he had was great intelligence, and this he used for his own gain instead of as a means of helping others. The Incredibles and other "supers" however, did not work for merely their own gain. They worked towards protecting others and bringing hope and peace to the world. They had real and natural gifts, something truly special. Supers are not perfect however. They are merely super.
Bob has incredible strength and used it for good, but when hard times came a lot of what he did had to do with his ego and feeling good about himself.
Helen could stretch all over the place and punch anyone out, but she loved to criticize, argue over unimportant things, and pretend that super power was nothing.
Violet could disappear and create forcefields, but she was insecure and didn't quite know who she was.
Dash could run forever, even on water, but he was over curious and very disobedient.
And Jack-Jack? Well, he was a baby!:P
I don't know if in all this writing you understand what I'm trying to get at. We, as Christians, are the supers. We are special and different from normal people in that we have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us. He is our power, our super power who enables us to do great things. And He gives us a gift, or several gifts (like Violet and Jack-Jack). Gifts for us to use. Gifts that no one else can have. They can copy and play at having them for a while (like Syndrome), but their plan and game eventually fall through. They lose. They lose everything they had gained for themselves. They even lose their life.
And every super is different. No two are alike. Why? Because that's how God made us. He built us for community. He built us to compliment each other, to depend on each other, and to help each other. He didn't build us to work alone, because when you work alone you end up like Syndrome. When you work alone or try to, you end up like Bob: frustrated and scared of losing his family. But there's no fear in real love. Real love fights on, and real love fights alongside those around it. Why? Because together we're stronger. Alone Bob couldn't defeat the robot. Together they killed it.
How many times though do we fall into doing things, and into using our gifts to make us feel good like Bob? How many times do we down-talk the power living within us and "poo-poo" (if you'll pardon the expression) the gifts we've been given like Helen? How often do we lose our identity and not communicate like Violet? How much curiosity do we allow to overcome us and so we disobey like Dash? I plead guilty, do you?
We aren't perfect, but we are supers. We need the men to step up, lead, and "intervene" just like Helen asked Bob to! We need the women to stand beside the men and encourage the men like Helen does in the end, not be argumentative like Luscious' wife! And we need to all keep our focus on God, on Jesus and what He's done for us. Because without Him, we're nothing...even together. And through all the trials, even if we're scared or need stitches, we'll come out stronger from them in the end. Just like the Incredibles.
So what are you waiting for? You've been given a wonderful gift, maybe more than one. Are you using it?
There are lots of good memories in there...but this year I find myself comparing. The taste and feel are so different now. When someone says Christmas, the first thing that pops into my head is not snow or presents. It's not even a tree. I see great mounds of ripe, sweet tangerine's, and piles of sugar cane. Piñata's, the rush to finish up the Christmas play preparation, and lots of good hot punch are what come to mind. Turkey dinner, and the tree, are still there. But I have forgotten snow...if it were to snow here everyone would freeze...it would be awful! The cold winter frosted mornings and nights are enough around here. I don't dream of a white Christmas. I envision a bright, clear day with just enough chill in it to need a long sleeved shirt or a sweater. I see stall upon stall downtown filled with sparklers and "onions", and hear the grating music of Christmas lights. I see huge manger scenes in restaurants, on the street, or in the Catholic Church. And I see my Church. I see its stage. And I remember my very first Christmas I ever spent here. All of it. I can see year after year, and play after play acted out on that stage, but the first one...the first one is the dearest and the clearest.
God has given me so much. And while I remember the biggest gift He gave me this year the same as the others...I remember everything else He's given me since then. I was given a toilet plunger as a joke one year (please don't ask why). Needless to say I didn't love that present. But as strange as it sounds, I'm thankful this year for all the toilet plungers that God has given me, in other words, all the presents I didn't want or enjoy, but needed. I've used that one many times, and it's been a great help. And so have all the others. We can ask for what we want, but it won't necessarily be what we need. Thankfully, God loves us. He puts us where we are for a reason. He lets things happen to us for a reason. Thankfully, He hasn't given me everything I've wanted, but much more than that. He's given me gifts that I didn't want or even like, because He knew I'd need them later on. And thankfully He continues to do so.
Violet could disappear and create forcefields, but she was insecure and didn't quite know who she was.
She's sat at death's door
trying to escape.
But those days...
There are times when, despite my love of writing, words seem to become so shallow. Is it because we say too much, or not enough? In all the poetry, within all the songs, in all the stories and speeches...have we lost the meaning of what we're saying? Have such simple, powerful things such as words been over-used and over-emphasized? I can't help but think that so many words, so many expressive and powerful words, have been polluted and twisted into meaning something they were never created for. We've all heard, and we all know at least the first verse of the song "Joy to the World". But when we sing it, do we even think about what "Joy" actually means? Do we know how much feeling that word has been created to express? When I say the word "love", what do you think about? Does it strike anything deep and beyond expression in you, or do the thoughts of a lovely romance and a nice song come to mind? Do you really love chocolate, or do you just really like it? 
There is a time in life when some of us realize that we are different. A time when words find a deeper meaning in our minds because we hear them as more than one word. It is a time when we realize that we understand and speak things perfectly in two different languages. This happened to me when I was 13 and it was confusing! There were times when someone would ask me a question and my mind would go into a panic. Were they talking to me in English or Spanish? Sometimes, without wanting to, I would answer in the wrong language. The person I was talking to would frown, put on a tight smile and ask: "What did you say dear?" Then I'd feel my face go hot all over. It was usually no good trying to explain what a jumble my mind was in. And it was no good trying to convince them that I wasn't showing off.
Growing up bilingual can be confusing, but it can also have its advantages and laughs. I love walking into a Wal-Mart where the majority of the people are speaking Spanish. I feel guilty sometimes, like I'm some sort of spy, but I also feel a certain kind of power...and it's so much fun! I understand everything and no one knows that I do! I also love the times that I walk up to some unsuspecting someone and start jabbering away in Spanish. They look at my blond hair and blue eyes incredulously, ask a few questions, and then look partly amazed, partly impressed, and quite confused.
