Harry Potter: The Deathly Hallows, Part 2

This is no Stephanie Platter movie critique, but it'll do! The three of us, Alicia, Laurie, and myself, shared Alicia's birthday dinner, grabbed our sweats and headed for the theater. We arrived about two hours early which gave us a decent amount of time to find a good seat and take in all the people watching we'll need for the year. With great anticipation, we waited for the film to start and a good showing of crazy Potter fans came out for the end of the epic saga. The film was filled with one liners from favorite Potter characters and just about every memorable character from the books made an appearance, both on screen and off screen in homemade costumes. The battle scenes were gripping with phenomenal artistry and moments that tugged on your every emotion. Spoiler alert: the story came to completion with Voldemort's demise, but not before Harry could learn the truth about his past and the honesty of Snape's heart. It was a story that was not far from stories that have been told for thousands of years. A hero's life sacrificed for the greater good, yet is resurrected to be the commoners rescuer. Sound familiar? Harry brings hope, compassion, even for his enemies, and the tried and true adage, "good overcomes evil" marches on. And for those of us loving a sappy ending, just like in the novel, we fast forward 19 years at the end of the flick to see our favorite characters and the lives they are living.

Now for the really good part....I was able to get some not so incognito pics of some people, only one of which I knew. There were some seriously Harry Potter invested people at this flick, which did not disappoint. Some even sobbed through particularly emotional parts of the movie...I, however, did not find a tear. Here are some pics I managed to snap from the iPhone, please dismiss their quality:

Harry Potter....trust me, the lightening bolt is on his forehead...and he's about 25..

This gal made a pretty sweet spray-paint/puffy paint shirt...it claims she's a "Hogwartian"

Her friend had a "death eater" shirt on...I'm pretty sure she made both...bless her heart

These dudes are donning their best interpretation of Dumbledore and his wizard friend...I think

And last but not least, a friend Bobby, dressed as Snape. He claimed he wasn't into it and was nervous we thought he looked like a girl. Right....

Potter fan or not, you'll love the movie and the completion of a story that's been unfolding for over a decade. But do me a favor and go when it's normal for people to be awake. That was way too late for this girl....who goes to bed by 11pm!

The End of an Era

The title makes it seem like this is going to be a sad and sentimental post...in some ways that is true, and in most ways it couldn't be farther from the truth.

Tonight I will be donning my sweatpants (sweat "capri's" for this Florida resident...too hot for the full length) and grabbing two friends to head to the last installment of the Harry Potter saga. That's right, the nerd inside me is trilled that the "Hallows: Part 2" has finally arrived and the we get to watch the story unfold. Although I spent a summer a couple years ago reading through the whole series, and I know how it is all going to end, I couldn't be more excited about watching the story come to a close on the big screen.


We'll get to see these fine characters capture some more horcruxes (sp?...only J.K. Rowling would know) and come to a place of peace when all is said and done for "the one who shall not be named." Anybody else excited?! Don't be shy, we can be Potter nerds together.

I imagine we'll run into several Potter enthusiasts tonight at the midnight showing and I'm secretly just as excited to see what kind of characters show up at the theater tonight, (spoiler alerts) as I am for Voldemort's days to be over. I'll be sure to come back with a recap on my experience staying up way past my bedtime to join the masses waiting anxiously to watch the final addition come to life on the screen. Stayed tuned.....


P.S. This photo is way too intense for those classes.....can I get a witness?

Peeling away my Dragon skin

Over the past seven months I've been on a spiritual retreat of sorts. Although I've lived at home and visited family and friends in different places, I've been somewhat secluded in my days, seeking the Lord, and growing ever dependent on Him. His voice is the one I've been attempting to train my ear to hear and His presence has been more tangibly sought in my life over the past seven months. Leave it to the Lord to make it abundantly clear when He desires for you to sit still and deal with the matters of your heart that need to be changed by Him.

Last week I watched the newest flick that has come to DVD from the Narnia series, "Voyage of the Dawn Treader." I've have read the book several times but was struck by an image that was created from the words of the novel. Eustace, a boy turned into a dragon so that his outward appearance would match the condition of his heart, was being re-shaped and changed by the lion Aslan. Aslan had been changing his heart and as Eustace's soul changed, it became necessary for him to no longer be a dragon externally. The picture is of Aslan, with his paws, peeling away the scales of Eustace's dragon skin that he couldn't peel away for himself. It is obvious that this is a painful process for Eustace, but Aslan stands close, with great warm light, doing the work of peeling back his scales for him and presenting him with a refreshing bath and new clothes.


I love this picture because I think it's true of what our sanctification process ought to look like and I often need reminding how little of it I can do for myself. Like Eustace, I find the sinful places in me, and instead of simply offering them to the Lord, I try to fix them unfortunately growing for myself a covering of scaly skin on my heart. My pride sometimes thinks it's my responsibility to be make myself clean and new before the Lord. All along, Christ stands with the work already done on the cross and a new set of clothes for me to put on.

Matthew 11:28-30 says: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."


If you are weary and feel like a dragon in your own skin, you have nothing to do but to embrace Christ's "yoke" of love and be burden by His grace to find rest and new life. This has become such a helpful truth in sitting in a season that could reek with anxiety (and has in some respects), anger, and frustration. Sitting in Christ's love, receiving His grace has offered new life. I am His and that's enough. Who knew that would be so hard to learn?