The "Feel Better" Movie

Does anyone else have that one movie they always turn to when they are sick, or is it just me? Since age seventeen, my "feel better" movie has been Stardust. I don't know why I fell in love with the movie so much. Perhaps I love it because Ben Barnes was only it in for like two scenes, and therefore didn't have a chance to ruin it like he did with Prince Caspian. Maybe I am just like other girls, and I love the cute, romantic story between Claire Danes and Charlie Cox.

Soure: RGJ

Perhaps it is just that Michelle Pfeiffer is just a beautiful woman for her age, and who knew a villain could look so good?

Source: News.com.au

 Maybe it is the sarcastic wit from Mark Strong's character.

But let's be honest, it is more than likely Robert De Niro's character that just makes me love this movie.

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However, the problem with this is that I have apparently lent my Stardust DVD out to someone along with the numerous DVDs I lend out and seem to never get back (by the way, if you are reading this, and you have my copy of The Notebook, Talladega Nights, Stardust, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, or ANY other movie I am forgetting, I would greatly appreciate the return of my item).

This concept got me to thinking though, how often do I expect something to be returned to me if I do something nice for someone else? I mean, I don't always think that person "owes" me anything, but I kind of expect to here a sort of praise. "That Jordan girl is so sweet. I just love how she is always helping out."

Not to cling to the past, but I was nominated for quite a few senior superlatives in high school. Among them was nicest, best personality, most dependable, and a few others, such as worst car and most likely to be on a reality TV show (whatever that means). It was quite an honor to be nominated, and I cannot lie to you guys. I thought FOR SURE I had nicest in the bag. You know how many of those superlatives I won? None. Not one. I thought, "Maybe in college." Yeah, I wasn't even NOMINATED in college.

Looking back on it, it seems prideful and almost like you don't deserve the title of "nicest" if you think you deserve it. Perhaps that is why I didn't get it (more than likely it was popularity politics, but I am trying to make a point here). But it honestly didn't change who I was. I don't need some recognition, and that has been hard for me to accept.

I still really do struggle with comparing myself to others. I watched a number of my friends in college have many awesome things happen to them. You know what I thought the whole time? "I wish that could happen to me." I think I wasted a lot of my life wishing for awesome recognition or praise that I never got to be happy and appreciate the things for my friends. This in turn caused me not be happy and appreciate the things going on in my own life because I always wanted more of something. More recognition, more titles, and more whatever to just prove myself. My grandma used to always say it best, "The one thing about Jordan is that she is just never satisfied."

I once watched a video called "God's Chisel" from The Skit Guys. It was really great, and I loved it. I shared it on Facebook and everything. To this day, I honestly couldn't tell you everything in it. I could tell you one line though. One line that just stuck with me. The guy that portrayed God was chiseling away all of the bad stuff in this person's life to make him more like God. While doing this, "God" said, "You compare yourself to others instead of me." Talk about a part that stood out and hit me up the side of the head.

You know maybe it is okay to want more, but I need to direct my "wanting more" to wanting the right thing. I want more of God's heart. Just serving and loving others. I want more of the greater life. Not just the good life that comes with something in return because that something is not going to be enough for me. I want more of the greater life.

John 14:12 (NLT): "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father."

I am aiming for wanting more and more of this greater life. I am leaving behind this need to prove myself and insecurity that comes through comparing myself to others. I have a spiritual gift of exhortation that I have just wasted as I sat in my "expecting more for me time." I don't want to waste what I have been given. I know God has greater plans for me than what I think will make me happy (Ephesians 3:20).

In case you wanted to see it, here is the "God's Chisel" video.

In case you wanted some more Stardust, here's Mark Strong laughing on the floor.

Source: Tumblr