Wednesday afternoon I sat down in a seat in my local movie theater to view one of the most controversial movies of our time, “The Passion of the Christ.” Reading all the publicity of the past few weeks, I truly did not know how I was going to react, but also, what my opinion would be. I was quite surprised.

So what did I think?

“The Passion of the Christ” is a movie that tackles multiple subjects…not just the concluding death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. That I knew about before I sat down in my seat. “The Passion” is also a story about mankind left to himself. I did not find the movie anti-Semitic…on the contrary…I found the movie antihuman. Like many times in history, man can show himself to do extraordinary acts of kindness and diabolical deeds of evil. Each culture contains the possibility of both at any given time. I watched a movie where I saw someone beaten like I’ve never seen beaten before. Jesus was not just crucified, but tortured, for every ounce of life to be wrung out of Him before His death. Halfway through the movie I found my mind flashing back to memories of the past and thoughts about the future. “The Passion of the Christ” showed all the defects and glory of humanity.

In the movie “Schindler’s List,” I watched a brave man, Oskar Schindler, risk his life to save Jewish people who worked at his factory, from a nation that wanted to kill every one of them. The rage that swept through Europe during the Second World War was not only a German rage, but also a Human Wave of Evil. What happened to the Jewish people in the concentration camps was not only a stain on the Nazi’s, but also an example of mankind reduced to a violent, angry mob. “Schindler’s List” was a warning to us all. If not heeded, it is destined to repeat itself.

“The Passion of The Christ” too is a warning to us all. The Jewish people and the Roman Empire did not kill Jesus Christ….mankind did. The same evil that raged itself in World War Two Germany raged itself in the Holy Land over 2000 years ago. WE, mankind, as a collective body, which allows such evil to roam free, are responsible for both of these acts. “The Passion” involved fear, politics, misunderstandings, hate, anger, strength, determination, love, and forgiveness. Quite a journey packed into two hours on the screen! Jesus says in one part of the movie, “If they can do this to me, what do you think they can do to you?” This was truly, I believe, His thoughts regarding mankind left unchecked. Yes, indeed the violence was numbing, but as Jesus carried the cross through the streets, while being beaten by the Roman soldiers, you could easily feel yourself leaping into the movie to carry the cross with Him. I found myself saying, “Hang in there Jesus…you don’t have much farther to go to get Home!”

Myself being a mother, the scenes between Mary and Jesus brought me to tears on more than one occasion. The connection of love between them was palpable….imagine a mother having to watch her Son being brutalized, and nailed to a cross? an angry mob attacking Him? All of the acting was superb, but the scenes between Mary and Jesus will stay in my mind forever. Academy Award level, for sure.

“The Passion of The Christ” is a statement of how mankind can be caught up in the atmosphere of anger and hate, and the random acts of kindness of some who helped Him accomplish His mission. In the blink of an eye, we too can choose acts that swing both ways…to learn right from wrong is our dilemma. Until Peace, Love, and Brotherhood circle our world, who killed Jesus Christ? we all did.

Follow the Footsteps to Heaven,
love, Jennifer Avalon
(c) 2004 Jennifer Avalon

Here is a little experiment to try: take a piece of paper, and a pen, and write down who you think you are. What do you need…what do you want….what matters most to you? When you are finished, get a cup of coffee or tea and after a little break, revisit the page and see if there are any more additions you would like to make. Then, put the page in an envelope in a safe place.

The next step is to go to somebody whose opinion you really trust…perhaps a good friend, or a close family member. Ask them to write down on a piece of paper who they think you are…what they think you need and want, and what they think matters most to you. When they are finished, tell them to place it in an envelope and hand it to you. You in turn will place it next to your letter.

Finally, if you can, find someone that you’ve just met, or who doesn’t know you too well, and ask them to write down who you are, with the same questions as before. When they are finished, ask them to put it in an envelope, and hand it to you.

When all of this has been completed, bring all three envelopes together, open them, and place the letters side by side. You get to see how you see yourself, how a close friend sees you, and someone new in your life sees you. The differences can be quite interesting. We get to learn not only how we see ourselves, but how we are perceived by others. The more information we can gather about ourselves, the greater the knowledge can be obtained to help us grow. It allows us to get outside of own heads and see ourselves from different angles. It can be a little scary, but also a little fun. We become 3 Dimensional.

You could also try this with your spouse or partner, to get a better understanding of each other, and enhance communication lines. None of us are islands unto ourselves…going 3 Dimensional could be a way to extend the view.

love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2004 Jennifer Avalon

I would like to tell you a story about Freddie. Freddie was born with two legs that had weak knees. His parents were told that eventually his legs would require some form of surgery that would correct damage that could be caused by arthritis. The early weeks of Freddie’s life were quite tough, so much so that if you looked into his little eyes you would see that his whole being was turning inward, as a way to protect himself. He was quite fearful…I believe of rejection. In a world that glamorizes perfection, Freddie had quite a lot to overcome.

When Freddie came home his sister Elsie was waiting…wondering for days what all the fuss was about. She embraced Freddie and from day one she truly not only became his big sister, but also an additional mother. As the months passed, if you looked into Freddie’s eyes, you could slowly see the personality emerging, as the fear subsided. More and more he became stronger….until one day his eyes, which also were not strong at birth, gleamed and lit up the room. Freddie learned and grew with time, becoming more and more evolved. Today, he is one of the center figures of his family. People look up to Freddie….there isn’t a day that goes by where one doesn’t learn something from him. When you enter a room where Freddie is sitting, you have to be very careful…it’s quite easy for him to pick up on your moods and know if something is troubling you. He can smile with you, and help to dry your tears. Freddie is compassion, personified.

Who is Freddie, you may ask? Freddie is an 8 year old little dog. What Freddie was given to work with at birth and what he has overcome is remarkable. He is an inspiration to anyone who meets him. Family and friends all know Freddie…and the kind soul that he is. To spend time with Freddie is to enrich one’s life. I am truly blessed to be his caretaker.

Freddie, a best friend indeed,
love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2004 Jennifer Avalon

We all need to feel safe, sound and secure. What is familiar can be quite comforting. Yet, if all we do is allow ourselves to remain in the same spot, at what point do we start to feel stagnant, stale, or perhaps bored? The Comfort Zone can be very wonderful, but at some juncture to continue growing we may find it wise to extend it’s boundaries.

Over the eons scholars, authors and celebrities have dropped tidbits about how the Comfort Zone has affected their lives. Recently an actor said on a talk show, “It feels nice and safe to continue playing the same role over and over, but after a while it can trap your creativity.” He went on to say “When you decide to make changes in your life or career, forces seem to come out of nowhere to stop you from going forward.” An author said recently “Life is like an air flight….before you get to cruise control where everything runs smoothly, you hit pockets of turbulence.” As we can see, to move forward, it sometimes can take a touch of bold determination.

Do we have to always choose between comfort and growth, or comfort and stagnation? Or, is it change itself that we have to come to grips with? The trick seems to be to allow change to become part of the Comfort Zone. Not an easy task indeed, but very possible. Ages and stages are parts of life, each one bringing it’s own challenges to be overcome. We are supposed to know more and be better people at forty, then we were at twenty…if not, then we wasted some of our precious time. Can it be said that we can only hold on to yesterday for so long, until we have to let it go? Tomorrow can be an enemy, or a friend…how we deal with it is up to us, both inward and outward. The Comfort Zone can be a place of growth and knowledge, as long as we let the winds of change blow through it.

May the winds prevail,

love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2004 Jennifer Avalon

This may be the year that the mainstream embraces the new toys. All one has to do is take a look around the local electronics store to see what is coming down the pike. Surround Sound, Plasma Screens, I-Pod Music players, or Cell Phones that can take pictures…one thing’s for sure, the world as we see it and hear it over the next few years, is going to drastically change!

A friend of mine recently purchased one of the new plasma screens…it hangs on his wall like a piece of art. To demonstrate he put on a DVD and lo and behold, a moving multicolored three dimensional art painting was born. As guests arrived and we shared conversation, I could not help but once in a while stare at the images on the plasma screen. Even though they retail right now for around $3,000 it won’t be long until the price comes down to where we will all be able to acquire it. Moving pictures on the wall…go figure!

Like all new toys, they can be used for good, or bad….hopefully, responsibility will prevail. These new gizmos are having an effect on our society as a whole…seeping into our subconscious in some strange, interesting, and at times, comical ways. Another friend of mine shared with me a dream of hers that appeared a touch bizarre, but let me share it with you anyway. She told me that in the dream she was sitting on her couch next to a robot, who looked totally human, and was wearing khaki slacks, a shirt and a sweater, with a baseball cap on. His name was “Fritz.” To her, he was just wonderful…she could talk to him all about the headlines of the day, her favorite hobbies, and exotic recipes from around the world, that she would cook for her family that night. “Fritz,” to her, became like a trusted old friend, who took interest in whatever words sprang forth from her mind. Could it be, I thought to myself, that one day, like the plasma screen, we will all have our own “Fritz?!” I know a recording engineer who always says to me, “I would love to mix my own version of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of The Moon”….when I mentioned to him the “Fritz” story, his eyes jumped out and he said, “Man, “Fritz” may be just the kind of guy I’m looking for to help me remix Pink Floyd’s classic album!” You see, a “Fritz” could be a unique individual experience for each one of us. Can we even begin to contemplate looking out our window and seeing humans and robots walking side by side, engulfed in conversation? If the plasma screen is today’s new toy, what will tomorrow’s be?

Not too long ago, there was no World Wide Web, and today we fire off messages around the world at will. We see images that change our lives. I believe a “Fritz” will come…how this latest toy is handled is up to us. Each Holiday Season the envelope of imagination and excitement is pushed further and further…with all great discoveries, comes responsibility and promise. But what good will it all be if we don’t embrace the oldest gift of all…..the human heart. For we all can be dazzled, but for what purpose if we don’t become better people for it?

May the force be with you:)

love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2004 Jennifer Avalon

For many of us, each year has its ups and downs. This past year has had its share of strange occurrences and blessed events. For some, the year 2003 is a room where many can’t wait to slam the door shut……. stock markets, weather swings, elections, etc…….many are just purely wanting to start anew.

As 2004 approaches, we ask ourselves, “How can I build upon the successes of the past year, and move them forward into the next?” Without a course, we have no way to reach a destination. We become victims of luck and chance. What I have found is, the more responsibility and planning I take in my life, the better control I have over the outcome. Sure, unexpected things always happen…..but with God’s help, hopefully, I can chart a course that delivers me to places where my spirit can soar.

Each year before New Year’s Eve, I sit down with a pen and paper and ask myself, where do I see my life a year from now? I know I won’t get there overnight, but over time if I put one foot in front of the other, and stare straight ahead, and with the right amount of faith and focus, I do believe I will arrive at where I want to be.

I would like to wish you good health, good spirits, and successful endeavors for the New Year. With the right plan, and determination, anything is possible……

HAPPY NEW YEAR,
love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2003 Jennifer Avalon

The next two weeks are, for many, a time of great joy and for some, extremely stressful. The Holiday shopping season can be quite overwhelming and exhilarating at the same time. Many travel far and wide to get together with family and friends to exchange gifts and good cheer. I hope you and yours have a wonderful celebration, and I would like to add just a few tidbits to keep in mind to help keep you safe and sound:

This time of year, even the best of us come under a little pressure. We ask ourselves, “What is the perfect gift for my loved one? How do I top last year’s present?” We’ve all been there….seen the face that sometimes is disappointed in our choices, when perhaps the simplest gifts have the most impact. The rare, the unique, the personal ones always ring true. It could be a long lost photograph, a favorite book, or a collection of memories…these gifts can last for years.

Meeting family and friends that you only see about once a year can indeed be wonderful, and sometimes a little scary. The days leading up to the encounters, we may find ourselves a little absent minded, making common mistakes, or a feeling that there’s not enough time in the day. Relax….this is all quite normal. As the saying goes, try to take it all “one step at a time,” and, by the way, a deep breath here and there doesn’t hurt either!:)

Wherever your travels make take you, try the best you can to stay alert and watch out for the other guy’s potential mistake. It’s important that wherever you travel, be it land, sea or air, that you arrive safely. As you may love and need others, so they may love and need you too.

What astounds me each year at this time is the feeling that we are saying good-bye to one year, and hello to another. Father Time marches on…presenting us with a new year of blank pages to write our story upon. Each one of us are unique…one of a kind….the world has never seen before, and will never see again. Enjoy life….as much as possible.

Last but not least, let’s not forget this is a Holy Season. The whole purpose of celebration is to remember that something greater than us all, exists. The birth of a child over two thousand years ago still gives hope to many that one day, this world can become the paradise it is intended to be.

Happy Holidays,
and may You and Yours have a Blessed and Enlightened 2004,

love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2003 Jennifer Avalon

If we forget to remember, things have a strange way of repeating themselves. We are, in general, creatures of habit…we choose our habits, or they are chosen for us. Yes indeed, unfortunate events can happen to good people, but overall, it is our thoughts that we do control that can cause the most damage. Many times, forgetting is a choice that we should try to remember.

Writers, over time, have warned us that if not kept in check, history will repeat itself. Scholars are doomed to repetition if acknowledgment of past mistakes are not contemplated for future action. We may stumble and fall, but if we are to get back up we must examine what it was that brought us to our knees. When we let go of prior experiences, either professionally or personally, we can easily lose the roadmap to success.
Triumphs and failures in our lives are always best when they are examined on the simplest level, day by day, which are the building blocks of time. We can’t expect ourselves to keep all of the information of what we are to do in our lives unless we write it down and develop a schedule, calendar, or diary to examine where we are and where we are going. My oh my…how easy it is to forget!! It is truly mind-boggling the bombardment of information we are hit with in the year 2003. No wonder even the best of us can be left feeling scatterbrained.

Success leaves a trail….and so too does failure. To know the difference of what happened is to gain true wisdom. Each morning when we rise, engulfed with the energy of the Heavens, we stand in the moment with our arms open, looking for a way to help us leap to the next level. Spiritual Beings living in the physical world must remember that for inner peace what we can’t see can be just as important as what we can. To improve our lives it is necessary to remember the past, mourn our mistakes, and make the next day better. Not only for ourselves, but for all.

In Remembrance,
love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2003 Jennifer Avalon

I would like to share with you a story that was told to me by a friend of mine this past week. He informed me that his aunt had been diagnosed with bowel cancer. This is a woman that has rarely had any kind of ailment her entire life, and now, at age 72, cancer has entered the fray. She was diagnosed around two months ago and my friend and his family are hearing and seeing firsthand the stages of shock.

As I have mentioned, this lady was overall healthy and disease-free most of her life. Two months ago she started having cramps in her stomach, and a little discomfort going to the bathroom. She discovered upon getting on the scales, that she had lost around 25 pounds over the course of a couple of months. Her husband and family suggested that it would be a good idea to make an appointment with her doctor. After a few tests were run, it was discovered that she had a small tumor in her bowel that was causing a slight obstruction. Surgery was scheduled and performed. After the operation the family were waiting to hear the diagnosis from the surgeon. He informed them that the cancer had spread to the liver, and that the patient had about 18 months left to live. Obviously, the family was devastated. I am sure many of you have either heard or experienced firsthand this kind of a situation. This is where the stages of shock enter the picture: 1. Shock 2. Denial 3. Anger 4. Acceptance.

My friend’s aunt was fully aware that she had cancer, before the surgery….but she was not prepared for the prognosis after. When informed, she entered the first stage…shock. Rolling around her head were all the questions…”why me?”…”why now?”…”what do I do?” This stage lasted about a day or two.
A couple of days went by, and one evening while visiting, my friend’s aunt told her family that the cancer was gone, and she was not going to die. She believed that the cancer that had spread to her liver was gone. As much as I believe in positive thinking and miracles, many times it’s important to look at the disease that has to be confronted. Once one gets past the state of shock, to deal with it they embrace denial.

My friend’s aunt was then discharged from the hospital, scheduled for chemotherapy, and was allowed to go home. After one hour of being home, she pulled out her phone book and called members of her family to blast them for things that she thought they did to her in the past. This went on for hours. She would bring up things that had happened over forty years ago, as if it had just happened yesterday. She was furious….at everyone and everything. Anger became her friend.

At this point in time she is now entering the acceptance stage. She has done a lot of thinking, and much crying. In just the past couple of days my friend told me she has said “Well, this is what I face….and I will try to beat it. If I don’t, I’m going to enjoy the time I have left with those I love.” She has also mentioned that when something like this happens, your whole perception of life changes. She told my friend, “You know, you do really think you’re going to live forever.”

What I have learned from this, personally, is that it is always important to have one’s “house in order,”…so that if, God forbid, one either suddenly passes on, or finds out like my friend’s aunt that they will be passing in the near future, one can have as much a sense of peace as possible, and not have to try to scramble to either make amends, or take care of business. As Clint Eastwood said in one of his movies, “Tomorrow is promised to no one.” Mortal life is indeed temporary….the more we accept this, the more alive we become.

Carpe Diem, (Seize the day)
love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2003 Jennifer Avalon

Our wishes, dreams, goals and desires, over time all end up in a place called The Pantry…..part of our existence where we store our innermost thoughts and actions. Like all good pantries, once in a while we have to go in and do a little “Spring Cleaning,”….remove that which is decaying, and replace it with the new and fresh. The most threatening action, or lack of it, is neglect. We may believe we can bounce along on our merry way, but checking the inventory is never a waste of time.

The Pantry is a storage room which we add to, and subtract at will. Quality fills the air in The Pantry. Without fresh air, The Pantry can easily become stale…and before too long, cobwebs cloud the entrance. The deeds of life can easily create dust….so a good broom and washcloth always come in handy. The Pantry is the place we go to for reflection on our past, absorption of the present, and storage for our future. If we are good managers, over time we will find better ways to use the space. Like an untidy room, once we enter we understand that there should be a place for everything, and everything should be in its place. Once order is established in a room, or a pantry, we can quietly close the door with a smile on our face.

Some foods have longer shelf life than others….Love is the preservative of The Pantry. The more we Love, the longer things last. Hate is the ultimate decayer…one has to be on the lookout in every nook and cranny to make sure that it doesn’t spoil our goods. Love and Hate are always at war….so it’s important for us to remember that the sweet smell of Love is intoxicating. There is no better feeling than opening the pantry door and getting a whiff of that comforting aroma.

The Pantry lives inside each one of us….the warehouse of the Soul…..the conveyor belt of knowledge where he or she who listens hears most. The Pantry lets us see who we are, what matters, and where we are going. There is no checkout counter…..no lines…..no exchange of money……just enough room for us to enter and leave. The Pantry….. with shelves full of dreams, and jars filled with memories. The perfect ingredients for the Casserole of Life.

Bon Appetit,
love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2003 Jennifer Avalon