Well, here we are. The night our country celebrates Satan by dressing their children like demon-possessed cartoon characters. The one night of the year society deems it acceptable to allow our children to roam the streets going from house to house begging for food. The night where those that choose not to participate must stow away in their homes, sitting in the dark watching TV with the subtitles turned on so as not to tip off the children that they're actually in there - eating all the good candy themselves.

Speaking of death, destruction and all things dark - I saw the movie Saw 3 the other day. Despite the fact that the very first thing you hear is the "F" word repeated 3 or 4 times, I actually walked away from this movie with a spiritual object lesson. The movie is an elaborate lesson in forgiveness. I won't ruin it for you - but I was amazed at what this movie made me stop and ponder regarding forgiveness, grudges, vengeance and anger. While they say holding a grudge/refusing to forgive hurts you more than the other person - I still think that is true, but this movie is almost like a jagged sermon on forgiveness. And if you've seen any of the Saw movies, you know that they always make you stop and consider whether or not you are living life to the full. I would recommend you check them out - but do so with caution. They aren't exactly Focus on the Family films...

I know that cavemen still roamed the earth the last time I posted (sorry, Geico). To be perfectly blunt, I've been too self-absorbed and had too much tunnel vision to write much of anything lately. Life seems to go in cycles for me. It's like one tornadic whirlwind after another with periods of calmness in between. Lately it's been more like a consistently irritating strong breeze rather than a tornado - but enough activity to blow papers onto the floor. I feel like my mantra is "if I can just make it to (insert day, week or month of choice here)." I guess that's the whole of life. We run in circles all frantic over stuff that won't even matter a year from now. We put off dinner with friends or family. We skip church or prayer/Bible study time. We eat sludge in styrofoam containers because we are too tired to eat healthy. I guess I get a little contemplative when the end of each year rolls around and wonder what purpose I have served. Have I merely been yet another drain on the planet's oxygen supply or has someone benefited from my existence?

My friend Benny used to call me and ask, "What have you done for the planet lately? How has the earth and your world benefited by your existence?" I can't count how many of our conversations began that way. Sometimes he would just be messing with me, and sometimes he would make me answer. Even though he was (and still is) crazy, and was kidding around most of the time, that has always stuck with me. I often find myself asking people at work if they've done anything productive today, etc. I love having people in my life who stretch my thinking and challenge me - no matter how silly they may be. I haven't seen ol' Benny in a while. He's off being a youth minister these days, probably warping the minds of many a teenager. I can say with certainty, they will never be the same, and they will be better off for having known him. He certainly pushed the artist in me. I sure do miss that.

I guess the question is, will I consider the past year and make a hollow vow to live more vibrantly in the next or will I put my money where my daydreams and reflections are and actually get my metaphorical paint brushes wet?