I watched this movie called The Civilization of Maxwell Bright and “meeting” the lead female character really gave me the chance to see how an admirable woman interacts with the world.
Who’d have thought that a random pick on Netflix would result in such a heart change for me. In so many ways, this movie spoke to me and pointed me in a new direction.
I’ve been sick in my heart lately. I think it’s mainly because of my interactions with my roommates. On the surface they are very nice people, but there’s a level of judgment that lies beneath and comes out in conversation almost everyday. I try to limit my interactions because of this.
When I spoke of visiting a particular neighborhood, my roommate’s husband said, “Wilton Manors. You’re GOING there? Do you know what goes on there?”
I cringed. Wilton Manors is a neighborhood that is home to mostly gay people.
“You mean the fact that it’s a gay neighborhood?” I challenged sweetly. “What’s wrong with that? I’m gay. It’s not like you’re going to catch anything.”
And so it goes on. I find out he’s a certified pastor and it all makes sense now. I hate to write this but every time I meet a Christian, it’s like an early judgment day. They talk about others as though they have all the answers and no one else has gotten it right. They criticize and condemn, looking down on people who don’t agree with them- at least the ones I’ve met. Every time I meet a new person and they confess their Christianity, after getting to know them, it pushes me further away from the religion.
I don’t want to be judgmental and irritated by the world. I don’t want to walk around telling people who they should be and how they should live. I just want to love everyone and everything and be content with what I have.
I found a perfect model of this type of character in this movie, The Civilization of Maxwell Bright. Mai Linn, the wife of an extremely emotionally wounded man who lashes out at the world at every chance he gets, is extremely remarkable. She’s Buddhist.
He says to her, “Teach me this book (The Tibetan Book Of The Dead).”
She resists at first, “It’s not my job to convert you to Buddhism,” she says.
“I converted myself, now teach it to me,” he commands.
And he becomes a Buddhist. Not because she threatened him with hell and a thousands way to burn. Not because she bullied and shamed him into submission. Not because she promised him a reward of everlasting life. Not because she mentioned Buddha in every other sentence and forced him to worship with her.
“It’s not my job to convert you…” she said.
He converted because of the way she interacted with him and the world. A wordless yet powerful spirit spoke more than any sermon every could. She was poise personified.
She never let his harsh words get to her.
She wasn’t defensive or harsh with him.
She was a true servant, taking care of him in every sense of the word.
She taught him through example instead of force or coercion.
She forgave him for his ignorance and loved him anyway, without punishing him for mistreating her.
She wanted to help him heal.
She wasn’t interested in what he could give to her, only how she could serve in his healing process.
I want to be that selfless, that honorable and THAT poised in my dealings with the world.
I want to be that kind of gift to someone’s life.
I appreciate that when I encounter people living by Buddhist principles I get nothing but love and respect. No judgment. No fear based doctrine. Just love and respect and more love.
I think I’m going to look into studying Buddhism a little more. They say once you begin studying, “The Way,” you are a Buddhist.
Let’s see if I can capture the balance I so earnestly seek.