Shrek 2

Is it possible that Shrek 2 is better than the original? Consensus is, YES! Antonio Banderas as a cat works, and works well.

I love how they address the theme of beauty and happily ever after. The first movie stuck to Hollywood when Fiona was revealed in her true form as an ogre and, I believe, gave permission to thousands of people to dare dream that the airbrushed magazine underweight ideal is... obsolete. Unrequired for your happily ever after. Love, happiness, companionship can exist outside of the silver screen for those who (like 99% of the population) have lumps, bumps, pimples, or whatever else that the media demand correct before we could possibly become accepted or loved.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think there is anything wrong with makeup, dressing up, looking funky, except when this is driven by the media and feeds unhealthy self-esteem. I have had numerous conversations over the last month or so with people about physical appearance and I know my theology on it is not yet complete but here are a few thoughts...

Yes, life may be "easier" if you are pretty or good looking, or as Zoolander says "pretty good looking" but, and this is a big butt... what do you say to someone who is never going to look like they walked out of a magazine? Do you send them on a show like "Extreme Makeover", give them a haul over, boot them back into the real world and say, "problem solved"? Maybe that works... maybe. On the other hand, do you encourage them too seek happiness, but not to aim too high or out of their league? Alternatively, do we resort to playground tactics and tell them to stick their heads in a paper bag least they scare the smaller children.

If you have never been on the receiving end of stares or cruel jokes then maybe you won't really understand this, in the same way I can't really understand what it is like to live in the third world or to have your voice drop during puberty. However, there is nothing that kills you more slowly or painfully than to be written off or type cast because of your physical appearance. I think though, that there are more people than we realise who have been in this very boat. The woman's rights movement, the black civil rights movement and so on. Could it be that the worst crime in the 21 Century is to be ugly? Or overweight? Or stupid? Or geeky? Or worse, a combination...

Now, I'm very proud of my brother. He is a geek. He is a geek and he is proud of it. He wears a hat with 'geek' printed on the back and tonight was sporting a 'google' t-shirt. He thinks it's cool. I hassle him but deep down I wish I had the guts to do something similar. Maybe its easier for him because he doesn't fit the stereo type but still he doesn't try to avoid the label lumped on him because of his field of study and interest in all things techie. I'm proud of too, of another girl who is in my youth group. She wears the most outrageous clothes, odd colours, and odd combinations but because of the confidence with which she wears them, she is cool. She is herself and wears what she wants.

There is a wonderful quote from Terry Pratchet, which I shall now misquote because I don't have it in front of me. He talks about the 'monks of cool'. It is there calling in life to be cool. All novice monks must pass an initiation test. This test is to enter a room filled with clothes and tell them which outfit is the coolest. The answer of course, is 'which ever I pick'.
Now, I know that some people dress in particular ways to get attention, make up for something or rebel against whatever, but there are individuals out there who are confident that they are loved and thus not afraid of what others think. This isn't limited to fashion of course.

Anyway... what I think much of this boils down to is the 'if only...' syndrome. If only I was pretty, if only I was rich, if only I was famous... if only if only if only... Only problem is that we get there and find that the 'if only' doesn't solve the problem. Happiness isn't there; love isn't there... just look at Hollywood. They are the great 'if only' success story and they are some of the most screwed up people we are likely to see on Gerry Springer... well,, actually, maybe not... but that's not the point.

What my learning is to date is thus... if we want our 'happily ever after' (and I'm going to go with the Shrek understanding of this) then we have to let go of the 'if only's' and start with what we've got. We're designed for a purpose. Our intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual make up's are not cosmic accidents or divine boo boo's. To quote Sy Roger's (who may very well be quoting someone else) it's about loving the skin you're in.

Some of the most stunningly beautiful people, you wouldn't glance twice at on the street. However, talk to them, let them share their story and you discover they are the most attractive interesting people in the world. Unfortunately, the opposite is also often true, and if you don't believe me, think back to high school. So often, the stunningly beautiful ones physically are the ones who leave you cold. They are shallow, un-accepting and sometimes ever cruel.

My quest for my 'happily ever after' is going to begin on the inside. To speak an act with genuine love, joy, peace, hope, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness and self-control.

Now this is going to sound cheesy - it does to me - but I'm going to leave you with Audrey Hepburn's favourite poem...

Time Tested Beauty Tips

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; Never throw out anybody.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

Sam Levenson