[1532] AMERICAN SPLENDOR- The other day I re-watched one of my favorite movies- American Splendor. I don’t know why I like the movie, it’s quite depressing! But it’s an independent flick that came out a few years back, and I am a fan of independent movies. Plus, the main character also has an independent streak. The movie tells the true story of Harvey Pekar- a down on your like type of guy, always grumbling about something [sound familiar?] and he’s stuck in this dead end job, has been thru a couple of bad marriages and is always down on his luck. One day he meets a buddy who becomes famous in the world of underground comic books, the guy eventually helps Harvey launch his own comic book [American Splendor] and Harvey becomes somewhat famous- he still works his mundane job as a file clerk for some medical business; but he also becomes famous thru the comic. The comic book is simply this down on your look guy telling the true stories of his other friends, and the stuff they are all experiencing as real people- I realized as I was watching it the last time around- that, that’s why I like the movie, I identify with Harvey! A funny line is when Harvey gets a letter from some girl; she’s a fan [future wife] and she writes him for a copy of the latest issue; Harvey is this desperate type character, says he marries whoever will take him, and as he’s living this lonely experience he gets the letter- as he reads it he says ‘man, she’s got good looking hand writing’! Not that’s desperate! Life consists of many ‘real life’ experiences that often hit hard- people don’t need to see Christians as these ‘super duper’ jet set go getters- they need to ‘read’ the real life experiences of us and our friends, they need to see that we all go thru things in life- and yet we still believe. How many Harvey’s are reading this right now? One bit of advice- live each day as it happens, experience life as a real person- with other real people, and every now and then share your story with other people- be real- don’t hide all the faults, people need to see the good along with the bad- they don’t need some plastic image that no one is able to relate to- and most of all- don’t get married because she has good looking hand writing! J