This week, I unwittingly waded into my emotions by seeing a sprawling movie all about feelings. It's called "The Tree of Life", by director Terrence Malick. I don't want to give away the plot, and probably, even if I wanted to, I couldn't anyway. That's just how expansive the movie is. The upshot is it's about love, loss, imperfection of the members of one family, and the question of faith in God or a force greater than ourselves. It's a visual masterpiece. It's pretty sad at times. And sometimes I hate that. I hate going back into my feelings or worse yet, when my feelings go back into me. It feels safest when I've expunged them...when I've neatly categorized them like a stack of clothes, waiting to be given to good will, put away in a long lost drawer.
Tonight someone reminded me that I'm being too tough. That my shell and protection is up and my heart hurts. It happened to be a friend in a 12-step program. One of the traditions of 12-step programs is that it is like "Fight Club". The first rule of "Fight Club" is you don't talk about "Fight Club". The eleventh tradition of AA and OA are you don't break your anonymity in press, radio or film. But it's nearly impossible for me to talk about my life without mentioning I struggle with food addiction and am a recovering alcoholic. The person I spoke with has been in one of the programs for a very long time, which can make him a royal pain in the ass. I can't mince words here. It's incredibly annoying when someone can practically look right through you to see your heart beating, then skipping beats. Frankly, it's much worse than the latest TSA scan at the airport I had last month, where they had me put my hands behind my head, and I knew they got a look at my naked body on their screen.
Sixteen years ago I lost a baby when I was nine months pregnant. About five years ago I came to some kind of erroneous conclusion I should be over it. But you know, my friend reminded me, you don't really order your feelings around when it comes to that kind of loss. Watching "The Tree of Life" I was awed by the reminder of how vast the physical universe is and how temporary some of the people and items in our own lives are. The movie keeps it real. There are no perfect people or situations. The only most perfect thing seems to be nature in its majesty. But we know from recent news events, even nature has a tail that stings when it strikes you.
The upshot is this. I can't order my grieving process into a bottom drawer in my dresser or bury it in a grave. It lives with me. But it is also what breathes life into my soul. Nothing has ever made me as horrifically saddened as the day I held the body of my baby in my arms. Conversely, 15 months after that, nothing has ever made me as ecstatically grateful as holding my lively newborn baby girl in my arms. It was the majesty and mystery of death and rebirth in less than a two year span.
The beauty of my conversation with a friend in the program is his ability to sit there, stone cold sober, and remind me my feelings matter and they need a voice. The exquisite wonder of the movie "The Tree of Life" is the way it evokes feelings about so much that has come or may come to pass in our own lives. Beyond that, it beautifully captures the breadth and scope of all things real and true in life and the universe.
There is someone I worked with briefly in a Los Angeles newsroom who would have really enjoyed "The Tree of Life". I'm certain he would have given it rave reviews on Facebook. James Kang died the week it opened, in a parking garage outside the newsroom. He was 42. He was a vibrant light in the newsroom at CBS2, Los Angeles. We talked frequently, where he smiled constantly and brought in donuts each morning. James was a friend on Facebook who shared his great photography all the time. I know his co-workers, friends, and family miss him terribly and were shocked by his sudden death. When I found out from a friend he had died, I sat in a chair and cried.
I certainly know I don't have the why's and the what's of people passing so unexpectedly. But I do have the privilege of seeing art that is film and having someone to talk to, both of which reminded me having feelings is part of the human experience. I've cried a lot this week and for that I am grateful. Feelings matter. Sharing them with others builds intimacy, and sharing them with myself builds character and opens some kind of relief valve.
I felt embarrassed crying in the movie and again crying on the phone with my friend. But that's the way of it. And now I feel ready to climb back out onto a branch on the tree of life and stay awhile.
Follow Lorraine Roe on Twitter: www.twitter.com/psychichouswife
Your writing has a deep seeded beauty in the way you parallel things with such a depth of visual impressions. I appreciate how you unwrap the truth with humor and integrity.
When we deny ourselves the gift of feeling we can't help to bring in the healing.
I'm not sure if you have heard of this but when you spoke of things not being permanent it reminded me of the Tibetan Monks that spend days making intricate Sand Mandalas that they chant prayers into. To signify the impermanent nature of existence they brush the sand grains and will send them off into the ocean or other water source(like our emotions) to send cleansing, and healing energies out into the world. I like to think that this article of yours is doing the same.
Thanks Lorraine!
We should remember the JOY we felt with their presence and see that in every flower and the bright light of day, but we must let them fly high in their eternal flight. The sparkle of their consciousness will forever connect them to us, but we must free their spirit from the sorrow of our earthly loss.
That is how I was taught and lived when my son passed on. Yet, your life is your own and whatever you do is YOU. All of us are on a journey to find and be GOD Consciousness and others and life's experience guide us, but the eternal flight is ours alone. This earth and this body will fall away to the reality which is nothing but this undying, living consciousness
As long as there are people like you brave enough to tell your truth and feelings, there is hope for all of us. I can't wait to see the movie. May you continue to be blessed as you walk the road of happy destiny with others.