Heartland Film Festival

Everyone always tells me that I only write in this thing when I am in Africa...well, that is usually true and I am not sure why. However, I have been having urges to write more...somehow an expression of myself...leaving a legacy as I live...I don't know.

This week in Indianapolis is Heartland Film Festival. It is where they show tons of independent films. My friend Amanda loves film and last year I was not able to join because I was in Africa. So, she would recount for me all the good bad and ugly films that I missed. This year, I am actually back for them. So, we have bought a package of tickets and are seeing a few.

Last night, we went to Amal. The summary by the film festival was

"Amal, a multi-layered portrait of contemporary India, follows an auto-rickshaw driver in New Delhi who is content with his small but vital role in the world around him. One day, he drives an eccentric billionaire who, disguised as a vagabond, is searching the streets for the last morsel of humanity--someone he can feel comfortable leaving his fortune to. With one passenger, Amal's life may change forever."

My friend did not think it was done well and rolled her eyes throughout the movie. Upon her further analysis, I will say that it did lack the good connection that she desperately wants to see. However, I was still struck by the movie.

I have been to India and I could just smell the landscape and feel the heat as they showed the images of the rickshaw and the the streets. However, I was struck most by the fact that this illiterate poor man was so content. Life was simple. In that life, he was content. He was presented as one of the few guys left in India who was honest and caring. He charged people fairly for his rickshaw rides...he sacrificed greatly for perfect strangers. His integrity and honesty ran very deep. I found myself wondering if the fact that he was content in life was what allowed him to treat people with such profound gentleness, kindness. He didn't need to get money out of them. He didn't need to badger. Life was ok...just as it was. Simple...poor...fine.

I often want to be simple. I go through many moments where I purge my house and my things. Trying to simplify...however, I still buy more things. I want it simple but with certain pleasures. I want to enjoy the moment I am in but struggle so hard to focus. In the shack (I think), there is a time where God says to stop worrying so much about the future it hasn't happened yet. Translation to me...worry about the future when it happens so much energy is concerned about the future or remembering the past that I miss the moment. And you never know...the future that you anticipate may never happen. Lately, when my mind starts going off in frustration or whatever related to the future I try to refocus on the moment I am in...the person I am talking to...the breeze as I sit....the joy of the routine of cleaning....and dang it...that really is a hard thing to do...who would have thought.