  Spiritual
This week: Changing the Story Edited by: Sophy  
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Hi, I'm Sophy ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter.
The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book Finding Your Religion, compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths. I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred.  |
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Changing the Story
WARNING: SPOILER ALERT FOR THE MOVIE "SAVNG MR. BANKS"
Tom Hanks as Walt Disney in the movie “Saving Mr. Banks”
Ever been to Kansas City, Mrs. Travers? Do you know Missouri at all? It’s mighty cold there in the winters. Bitter. My dad, Elias Disney, he owned a newspaper delivery route in Kansas City. Thousand papers. Twice daily. Morning and evening edition. Elias, he was a tough businessman. A save-a-penny anywhere you can type of fella so he wouldn’t employ any delivery boys, he just used me and my big brother Roy. I was eight then– eight years old. Like I said, those winters were harsh and old Elias didn’t believe in new shoes until the old ones were worn right through so–Honestly, Mrs. Travers, the snow would be up to here– You’d push through it like wading through molasses. And the cold and the wet would be seeping through the shoes and the skin would be raw and peeling from our faces– and sometimes I’d find myself sunk down in the snow, waking up, cuz I must’ve passed out for a moment– I dunno. Then school, too cold to figure out an equation. And back into the snow so by the time we got home it’d be just getting dark, and every part of you would sting like crazy as it slowly came back to life in the warmth. My mother would feed us dinner and then it’d be time to go out again for the evening edition. Best be quick Walt, best be quick or poppa’s gonna show you the buckle end again boy. Now, I don’t tell you all this to make you sad, Mrs. Travers, I don’t. I love my life – it’s a miracle. And I loved my daddy, boy I loved him. But, there isn’t a day goes by where I don’t think of that little boy in the snow and old Elias with his fist and strap and I’m just so tired — I’m tired of remembering it that way. Aren’t you tired Mrs. Travers? We all have our tales but don’t you want to find a way to finish the story? Let it all go and have a life that isn’t dictated by a past?
My father worked at Disneyland for 32 years, and Disneyland, which we referred to as “the park,” was essentially our second backyard. Dad was originally hired because of his background in Radio/TV repair to be part of a team working on the new Audio-Animatronics technology, a Disney patented invention which was first introduced in the Enchanted Tiki Room show, and later in Mr. Lincoln. As a “Disney kid” I was raised on all things Disney – from the Mickey Mouse Club and “The Wonderful World of Disney” on TV, to frequent park visits, and seeing every Disney movie ever made. There used to be a theater in Fantasyland – it was called the Mickey Mouse Theater, and in the 60’s and 70’s families of employees were invited to free screenings of movies in the evenings, back when Disneyland would close at the respectable hour of 5pm on weeknights. “The Love Bug,” “The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes,” and “Parent Trap” were all part of my childhood, along with all the classic cartoons. “Mary Poppins” was my favorite movie of them all. I loved the movie so much my parents got me the soundtrack record – and each night I fell asleep to Side 1, which ended with “Stay awake, don’t close your eyes.” To this day I can sing the entire musical score of the movie, word for word. 
So of course I was giddy with excitement when “Saving Mr. Banks” came out. A movie about the making of my favorite childhood movie? Talk about a dream come true! And while I enjoyed the movie in many of the same ways the rest of you did – I was also enthralled by many of the details, which were the backdrop of my own life story. Scenes that included Disney memorabilia – when Mrs. Travers finds her room at the Beverly Hills Hotel filled with gift baskets and stuffed animals, or Walt’s offices at the studio – made me wish I had a remote control with a pause button so I could soak it all in and study each piece. During the scenes shot at Disney studios and Disneyland, which were carefully restored as if it were actually 1961, I was on the edge of my seat, totally immersed. And when Walt told Mrs. Travers to call him Walt, I wanted to shout out to the rest of the theater, “He really did that! When my dad met him and called him Mr. Disney out of respect, they shook hands and he was told to call him Walt!” It’s fair to say that I enjoyed the visual aspects of the movie as much as the storyline itself, and left the theater bursting and bubbling over with memories and stories of my own that Mr. Sophy kindly let me blather on about for quite some time afterwards. And yes, I was singing too.
The film brings us into the heart of the struggle between P. L. Travers, the author of the Mary Poppins’ books, and Walt Disney, over the rights to turn her story into what became the beloved motion picture starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. There were different tensions at play during their negotiations, among them how to preserve the original message of the story while presenting it in a different format (book to film) for a new generation. In other words, how do you change the format while remaining true to the original meaning of the book? So for instance, can Dick Van Dyke dancing with animated penguins (a major point of contention between Travers and Disney) help communicate the book’s message, or does it cheapen and trivialize the story? Another tension had to do with P.L. Travers coming to terms with memories from her own childhood, upon which her stories were loosely based, and in particular the tragic loss at a young age of the alcoholic father she idolized. As we experience the making of the film, the character of her father and ultimately of George Banks are fleshed out, as is Travers herself.
In the pivotal scene of the movie, Pamela has angrily left L.A. over the aforementioned dancing penguins, among other things. Walt follows her to London on the very next plane for one last pitch. Over tea in her home, Walt shares the story from his own childhood that I read earlier. He finishes with these words. “Give her to me, Mrs. Travers. Trust me with your precious Mary Poppins. I won’t disappoint you. I swear that every time a person goes in to a movie house they will see George Banks being saved. They will love him and his kids; they will weep for his cares, and wring their hands when he loses his job. And when he flies that kite, oh! They will rejoice, they will sing. In every movie house, all over the world, in the eyes and the hearts of my kids, and other kids and their mothers and fathers for generations to come, George Banks will be honored. George Banks will be redeemed. George Banks and all he stands for will be saved. Maybe not in life, but in imagination. Because that’s what we storytellers do. We restore order with imagination. We instill hope again and again and again.” (Tom Hanks as Walt Disney in Saving Mr. Banks)
Of course the making of the movie “Saving Mr. Banks” is a story of its own – some of what is in the movie is accurate, some is fiction, and some is a blend of both, as order is restored from chaos through the imaginations of screenwriters, directors, and actors – all storytellers of a tale that instills hope whether it actually happened that way or not. So, while much of what is in the movie is factual, other aspects, if not inaccurate, are incomplete. Walt Disney was certainly no Tom Hanks – he had a temper, for one thing, which my father experienced firsthand and became part of our own family story, and some of his politics and ideologies have been questioned since his death. And while the movie doesn’t depict all of the aspects of the true nature Walt Disney, it’s a sin of omission rather than commission, and in the end, doesn’t really matter for the sake of this story, does it? Did Pamela cry at the screening of Mary Poppins? Yes, it was widely reported that she did. Was it because she was touched by the movie, or because she was horrified by the dancing penguins? Does it matter? Can the story of the making of the movie itself instill hope again and again and again without having to be factual?
A friend of mine wrote on her Facebook page about the movie: “The most moving part for me as a life coach was the way Disney looked behind the author’s recalcitrance to understand that the severity of her own life struggles was an integral part of her character, and by extension, of the book’s Mary Poppins. He suggests to Travers that she might re-tell herself the experiences of her childhood from the vantage point of an adult in order to allow the fictitious Mr. Banks an image change. Her choice to shift her perspective and reframe the story of her early life is liberating for all concerned. So as with Travers, sometimes we need to reframe a story we have used to describe one of our past or current negative experiences. Could our greatest gift to ourselves be the healing and forgiveness created by that reconceptualization? Wouldn’t it be worth the effort to feel free and to reach out with more ease and grace to others?”
How could you retell/rewrite your story? How can you use your imagination to bring order to chaos and reinterpret the meaning of events in your life, to instill hope again, and as necessary, again and again?
One of the stories of my childhood takes place at Disneyland, of course. “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” was about to open, and we were invited to go on stage and check Mr. Lincoln out before the attraction was open to the public because of my dad’s integral role in making it happen. I was about to turn 5, and as we gathered on the stage, I saw what I believed to be a mannequin sitting in a chair. People were looking closely at him and seemed to be very excited about him. I didn’t quite understand all the fuss, and the last thing I remember is the mannequin in the chair started to move – he lurched forward a bit and then stood up slowly and began talking. I screamed, bolted from the stage, and ran out of the theater on to Main Street. Someone came after me and got me before I went very far, and brought me back, sobbing, into the theater as my dad tried to explain to me what happened. He led me back on stage by the hand, reassuring me not to be afraid and that it was not actually alive. But from that day forward, I was always a little wary of Mr. Lincoln.
What if I were to rewrite that story? What if, instead of fleeing in fear when Mr. Lincoln first moved, I instead moved to get a closer look, maybe even touched him? What if that became the story, instead of my running away when something new and unexpected happened? How could making THAT my version of the story impact who I am today, and how I face my fears?
Again, how could you retell/rewrite your story? How can you use your imagination to bring order to chaos and reinterpret the meaning of events in your life, to instill hope again, and as necessary, again and again? I'd love for you to share your efforts with me either in the comments, or by sharing a static item you create in response, which I will use next month. |
Below you'll find some spiritual offerings from other WDC members. Please let the folks know if you read their piece by leaving a thoughtful comment or review.
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Here are some responses to my last newsletter "Spiritual Newsletter (January 8, 2014)" about what you believe:
From ANN Counselor, Lesbian & Happy  :
What a profound message in this newsletter. I too have written what I believe and read it years later to find it had changed. I accept the historical Jesus while debating how religious people have distorted it and diminished so many aspects of the Bible's teaching. Strange that the same people who push their beliefs on others in such a way as to push people away from formal religion, men's ways. My beliefs were once 'baptist sure' but no longer for science has proven many things beyond doubt that mankind's written religion no longer fits what a Creator God might have done. Living life without hurting others seem to be the far better way to live but 'they' call us humanists' as if we don't believe in God. My dear, you've got me on a thinking path when I just intended to say "great newsletter once again!" Ann
So glad it got you thinking - thank you for sharing some of your thoughts and journeying.
   
From pinkbarbie:
Very inspiring newsletter. Thank you.
Thank you! 
From A*Monaing*Faith  :
After attending a 6 wk seminar on every major religion I like to think there are many paths to a peaceful afterlife, I just have a hard time seeing it as fact. Then again, I believe that there are a zillion things we humans will never comprehend.
So true - we don't know way more than we do know.
From Zeke :
My faith and trust is in my creator and eternal God. I do not have an argument for others.
Nicely put, thank you.
From Imagine21 :
It is a very well written piece. You are an excellent writer.
Aww, thanks!
From monty31802:
I think you wrote an exceptional Newsletter on your opinion. I believe we all have a right to our opinion.
Exactly.
From Prosperous Pen :
I enjoyed this newsletter! This has inspired me to write My Faith Statement! I look forward to reading more newsletters!
I'm glad it inspired you, feel free to share your statement next time!
From shepherd46:
I found Sophy's editorial piece interesting, honest and insightful. Even though I don't agree with her philosophy and feelings about God and Jesus, I found it helpful in understanding another human being and their thoughts and feelings about God and the universe.
I believe in God and Jesus but I must also add, that for a long time I didn't feel the presence of both in my life. It has taken me years to see and feel the proof and evidence of Jesus and God and knowing that they are real, gives my life meaning and purpose. The Bible is not only historically correct but in my opinion, proof that God and Jesus are real and ready to help us when we need help.
Morningstar
I so appreciate the thoughtful and respectful way you shared your perspective, thank you so much!
From Stargazer :
What do I believe?
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Thanks for sharing this!
From shaara:
What do I believe?
I believe in the essence of God, a God that’s a positive force of good.
I believe that in meditating/praying to God, I am offered the journey toward harmony, equanimity, and knowledge -- not only in a book-learning sense, but on a path of affirmative growth of spirit.
Do I believe in the opposite? Yes. Sin is a step into negativity, onto the wrong path. Disobeying any of the Ten Commandments brings malevolence into a person’s life. Such sins/errors fill days with aggravation, plunge a soul into hopelessness, push a person into the dark waters of despair.
I believe that systems of religion can provide helpful instruction for attaining this enlightenment, but historically many of those churches have taken a turn into prejudice and the kind of thinking that says, “I’m right and everyone else is wrong.” I avoid such institutions, especially the kind where rants are called sermons and Biblical wrongs (like the original sin of Eve) are heaped upon shoulders, leaving people distraught, fearful, and even more distanced from God.
I believe that Faith should guide us toward acceptance of differences, encourage our ability to see the worth of each individual, bolster us against adversity, provide hope when it seems there is none, and offer instruction that leads us further on the path toward enlightenment.
I believe in Peace (another name for God) – the peace of spirit and goodwill. I pray that everyone will find its contentment. I like to picture this as Martin Luther King did in his famous Dream Speech – a world in which we all join hands and sing the sweet song of peace.
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Well said, thank you so much for sharing.
I received a couple of longer email responses that were very well done, but too long to share here as a comment. Perhaps they will get turned into static items, and I can share the link.
Thanks for all your comments - keep them coming! Until next time, Sophy |
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Spiritual: February 05, 2014 Issue [#6149]
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