Ours is a world of rich metaphor upon metaphor, folded back onto itself over and over again. Things are rarely the same, instead the common themes sometimes look the same with many differences in the intricate details. Reality does this on its own, but also by our observing. We can add to and build on the metaphors by various arts. The power of good art is to call attention to an aspect that has become forgotten by familiarity, to reflect. This is the power of well crafted fantasy, another world slightly different from our own which can help us to appreciate what we find when we fall back through the looking glass. The other world and its problems are not all that distant, from our own. It’s like Samuel telling King David the story of a man who has all the flocks in the world, but still steals the one sheep of his neighbor. A story gives David the perspective he needs to see his own sin for what it is. Of course some of us are so thick that nothing will ever get through, but we should try to emulate the heart of David and be willing to change and understand(II Samuel 12).
I was a little surprised by this movie The Age of Adaline. It is just the right kind of fantasy. It was very well done, Blake Lively is stunning and classy. I could do without the pseudo science which seems to be required to get most people into a fantasy story these days. Your grasp of even science is a story, get over it. So you want to paint a world where the rules are a bit different, it’s ok, don’t feel the need to put in a lame explanation which would make anyone with an actual grasp of anything, roll their eyes. Though, I always do love a narrator. And so this is a different world, but only slightly. I don’t really want to give any of it away, and ruin the magic it might work on you. Heaven knows there are far to many women who share Adaline’s affliction. I would love to administer this antidote as I try to administer any of dozens of perspectives on our ever staling state of life, in order that we might find a better way, and live it. So, go watch the movie and be enchanted. Then come back and keep reading.
I said go watch the movie, no fair peeking.
Adaline is different from other women. And this difference, leads her to be insecure. She is always on the run ever fearful that someone will get too close to her and find out her secret. This describes every single woman I have ever met. All women have things about them that they think will freak out potential suitors whether it’s a curiously placed mole or webbed feet. These things only make you unmarriable if you let them, if you keep running away. The other aspect is the fear of future pain. Adaline fears that she will outlive any future husband, so she avoids ever getting to that point, she runs away. But again, this describes the same possibility of any marriage. In reality most women do outlive their husbands, but most of them are too wise to care by that point. It’s still worth it. Instead for all those years Adaline lives in her intricately constructed system. I’m surprised she had a dog instead of half a dozen cats, perhaps she is allergic. This too describes most single women worth knowing. They are very much in need of allowing a man to mess up their system. But it’s hard to let go of the familiar. You tried it before and it never worked. But did you? Actually try? Maybe what needs to change is the giving up part, the running away.
Such wisdom paired with the beauty of youth is irresistible. And so the more wise, determined, and beautiful the women, who have crossed my path are, the more they tend to follow Adaline’s footsteps. But if you know Adaline, perhaps you can save her. Take her through the looking glass, that she might see her reflection and find it lacking grey hairs. Take her to the movie.
The clock stops for no woman, don’t let this life pass her by.