An Entertaining Movie & An Inspiring Book

As many know, Melanie and I are real movie buffs. We saw one we really enjoyed this past week. "The Bucket List" was a refreshing change to the hedonistic bias found in many contemporary films.

Corporate billionaire Edward Cole, played by Jack Nicholson and working class mechanic Carter Chambers, played by Morgan Freeman, have nothing in common except for their terminal illnesses. While sharing a hospital room together, they decide to leave it and do all the things they have ever wanted to do before they die according to the bucket list they've made together- the list of things they want to do before they kick the bucket.

The movie is entertaining as they visit places like the Himalayas, the Great Wall of China, the Taj Majal, and other exotic locations. They even visit a tattoo parlor. The underlying theme is that we should live each day with gusto, as if it might be our last.

One positive aspect of the movie was the contrast made between Freeman's character and the role played by Nicholson. Carter (Freeman) is a man who loves his family and openly embraces his faith. Edward (Nicholson) is a rich hedonist. The movie makes it clear that, in the end, what matters is family and faith, not money and self-gratification. One scene even has Carter saying the blessing as he lovingly enjoys a meal with his family while Edward is in a room crying, despite the fact that there are two beautiful women there with him.

My favorite scene is when Edward accomplishes one of his items on the list - to kiss the most beautiful girl in the world. I won't spoil it by telling about it. If you see the movie, you'll get it.

There's some bad language in it at times, so you probably won't ever see the film at church, but I thought it had a strong, positive message and enjoyed seeing it. In fact, I thought the story had a strong element of redemption in it.

On the reading front, I've been reading a good book by John Wood called Leaving Microsoft to Change the World: An Entrepreneur's Odyssey to Educate the World's Children . Since beginning to explore the best way to help people in Swaziland, I've been interested in reading about how others are helping people around the world. Wood is a remarkable man. He left an upper level position with Microsoft after he vacationed in Nepal and found himself being stirred to help the children there. He soon returned home, resigned his position at Microsoft and founded Room To Read, an organization that has done remarkable things in a short time.

In the three years since then, Room to Read has established 300 school libraries, built 25 schools, donated more than 140,000 books, set up 11 computer rooms, and awarded 100 scholarships to fund the education of young girls. Most of this work has taken place in Nepal, but Room to Read is also building schools and libraries in Vietnam, and there are plans to expand into Cambodia and India.

If you want to be inspired and motivated by the realization that one person can make a difference in changing the lives of many, this book is a good read.