Freezing Rain

Whenever we have winter storms, freezing rain, and low temperatures, I always think about the movie, "Dr. Zhivago."  It's due for re-release one of these days, especially since its 50th anniversary will be in 2015.

The story is about the approaching World War I and the Russian civil war between the Bolsheviks and the Proletariat.  The Bolsheviks were the struggling class and the Proletariat were the upper class Russians, the rich.  It begins in about 1913 and continues to the emergence of Joseph Stalin. 

It is the story of an ill-fated love between Yuri and Lara.  At one point in the story, with all of the upheaval, war, and social change, Yuri escapes to a beautiful rural home in Varykino, now encased in ice.  There are many, many pictures on the internet of this amazing sight.  He writes poetry about Lara which eventually is published and makes him very famous, but he ends up a lonely man.

The reason why the movie is worth watching is because it brings history to life.  It makes you feel the terror of the people on both sides of the economic spectrum, of the evil and conniving that always goes on, and of the complex nature of the Russian society.  It also makes you feel the weight of the government's power on the lives of the people.  At one point when Yuri returns from a long stint as a battlefield doctor, his home has been divided into tenements.  His family is eventually forced to flee Russia altogether.

The characters in the story have to fight so hard to stay alive, to find lost family members, to persevere against all manner of oppression.

The movie's soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful, and goes right along with those images of Varykino.

When you finish watching the movie, you have such an appreciation for the freedom we have here. 

The original story upon which the movie is based was written by Boris Pasternak who himself was persecuted for his writing. 

So -- no school today in our area.  Blizzard Bags aren't going to cut it, are they?  The kids are bored!!  It is really difficult for working parents, too, to figure out how they are going to manage.  Maybe some enterprising person could come up with a Blizzard Bag for parents to purchase for their kids, based on age and gender.  There could be some games, prizes, toys, arts and crafts, and all of that, but it would all be a surprise until it is opened on a day when school is called off!!  For summer it could be a Vacation Bag for a rainy day.  The contents of the bags should be interesting and should keep children busy for hours.  Not a bad idea, huh?

Well, please take care today. As they said on TV yesterday quite often, stay home unless you absolutely HAVE to go somewhere.  With that extra quiet time, take a moment to pray, to meditate, to read just a little bit of one of the psalms.