And The Oscar Goes To......

American cinematography celebrated the 80th Academy Awards on Monday.
I love the Oscars, it never fails to move me in one way or another.
Cinematography or the art and science of making films, tells the stories of humanity.
Pictorial narratives conceived, nurtured and produced by men and women who believe in dreams, portray humanity.

I was in my teens when I discovered the mesmerising effect and impact of film making.
While all eyes in the cinema were glued to the big screen, I looked around me and took that all in.
Then it hit me. The magnetism that a movie draws and the scale of portraying ideas, stories through a movie is limitless.
A good movie captivates audiences. A really good movie depicts the very essence of humanity, of society.

But it does more than that. It draws us into its story lines that it may draw us out of the walls that we live within.
Invisible walls in our mindsets and in our hearts. Invisible walls in our homes, society, workplace, schools and churches.
The walls that we fail to eradicate are a limitation to becoming who or what we and our neighbour are meant to be, to be whole.
Fear, ignorance, prejudice, bigotry, discrimination, abuse, apathy, self-righteousness; murder without even drawing blood.

When was the last time an awakening tore down the walls in you? When truth caused you to search your heart?
When was the last time you were inspired? What was the dream of your youth? When was the last time you allowed your heart to be moulded by your Maker?
When was the last time a story found a place in your heart and caused the walls in your heart and mind to rattle?

When we find ourselves at the crossroad of leaving behind the Old World, and learning to see through new lenses and walk in new ways,
going forward then becomes a choice that we have to make for ourselves. Our surroundings may not have changed, but we have. And that is the beginning.
In the course of facing the unknown and confronting our own fears and prejudices, it can be a little daunting and uncertain.
Yet may we rise up, "for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV.

He came to tear down walls. His name is Jesus. We are all but pilgrims through life, all recipients of an amazing love.
All I know is I once was lost but now am found, I was blind but now I see.
And I know He will do for you, what's He's done for me.

Take care,
Sv