A funny and inspiring commerical

I did not watch the Super Bowl, but I fell in love with one of the commercials that aired during the game. I actually watched the commercial on YouTube because it was posted before Super Bowl Sunday. My friend sent me the link and told me I had to watch it.

The commercial was for a Volkswagen Passat and it featured a little boy dressed head-to-toe in an authentic Darth Vader costume. He attempts to use “The Force” on everything in his house, from the washing machine, to the dog, to an exercise machine, to the sandwich his mom fixes him for lunch. Then his dad comes home from work and wants to greet his son with a hug, but the little boy is just interested in practicing his “Force” skills on his dad’s Volkswagen Passat. Meanwhile, mom and dad are in the house watching from the window. Dad decided to have some fun and uses his key fob to make the car start and the headlights come on. Little Darth Vader is amazed and jumps back in awe. For those of you who have not seen the video, watch it here

I am not really sure why I liked the commercial so much because I am not a big Star Wars fan. But the commercial is pretty genius. It uses the Star Wars theme music and the little boy is hilarious. You never see his face and he never talks, but his imagination and personality still manage to shine through.

I also appreciated the mom and dad in the commercial. The poor mom just rolls her eyes when the little boy tries to use “The Force” on the lunch she fixed to him. But, the dad’s reaction is perhaps the funniest. He raises his eyebrow and gives his wife a look that says, “Watch this,” and he presses the keyless entry button and on comes the car.

Within the next couple of days, another YouTube video was posted. This time, The Today Show interviewed the little boy who played Darth Vader, Max Page. You can watch the interview here

Listening to Max’s story was so inspiring for me. He was upbeat, and he seemed genuinely happy. He seemed to be ok with his newfound fame; he even said that people had been asking for his autograph. I really enjoyed his commercial and, even more so, learning more about him and how he has overcome the obstacles he has faced in life.

Dear friends, remember Max as you struggle with obstacles in your lives. And keep Psalm 46:1-3 in mind: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. Though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”

Dealing with the “Why are you single?” comments

Disclaimer: This post is written mainly for women because it is something I have experienced and wondered if anyone else had. However, I am not really sure if guys have encountered this scenario or if it bothers them as much as it bothers me. Anyhow, I hope this entry is inspiring for anyone who reads it.

Picture this for a moment, if you will. Maybe you are out to eat with your family. Or you are just hanging out. Maybe you are trying to enjoy a slice of awesome chocolate cake. Or, maybe you are at a social function. It could happen anywhere, really.

All of a sudden, someone makes the comment.

Sometimes I can predict who will say this comment, but other times the person is sneaky about it. He (or she) will wait until you are minding your own business to spring it on you.

But you know it’s coming eventually.

Wait for it.

Wait for it.

And then it comes.

“So, how come you are not dating anyone?”

Ah. My favorite question. Haha. Not.

Of course, there is my personal favorite—the blunt version. “When are you going to find a boyfriend? Don’t you think you should find one soon?”

Hello! It’s not like I can just go to K-Mart and put a guy on Layaway.

I never know how to gracefully respond to these comments. How do people want me you to react to that? Do they even want an answer?

Somehow just responding with my standard answer “Um, I don’t know?” is just not satisfying.  And wailing, “Ugh. There are no good guys left. Is there something wrong with me!!!” seems a tad desperate. All you get with that response is a “I feel sorry for you” pat on the shoulder, a sympathetic look, and a soothing, “Nothing is wrong with you. You just haven’t found the right guy yet.”

Come on girls. I am sure we have all wished at some point that we could just think really hard and we could will a wonderful guy to appear out of thin air. But, alas, I have tried this and it doesn’t work. (If it has worked for you, then please let me know because we could patent that jewel and sell it).

And what about those who say, “You are looking too hard. Just wait for love and it will come to you.”

Ha. Easier said than done. What does this even mean? I am just going to be going along in life and one day I will physically trip over a guy? This hasn’t happened for me yet, and believe it when I say that if anyone would trip over something, it would be me.

It’s a vicious cycle, and that’s a fact. It’s enough to make a girl want to give up on dating all together and just buy herself a puppy to keep her company so she doesn’t have to come home to an empty house. Or to join a convent and become the first Baptist nun. (Yes, I have threatened that before.)

So, what’s a girl to do?

Let me first say that I am by no means a dating expert, and I struggle with this so much. But, I am trying to learn, so here it goes.

I think that looking for love isn’t a bad thing. You need to keep yourself open to the idea, but it shouldn’t be an all-consuming thing either. Easier said than done, of course. How, you might ask, do you not let something consume your thoughts when you want it so badly? The best advice I have to give is to pray about it. Tell God what you are feeling, and give him your frustrations. He can handle it. He is an awesome God.

Single gals should not put their lives on hold waiting for a guy. But neither should they close themselves off from the possibilities of love. Instead, they need to live, yet keep the hope of love alive.

So, try for that dream job even though you feel it is impossible to get. Go back to school if you wish. Take up a hobby. Travel to cool destinations. Eat chocolate. Buy yourself flowers. Enjoy life. LIVE!!!!!

Most importantly think about how you make a positive impact on the world and benefit others. Volunteering is an excellent way to accomplish this. As a very wise person once told me this when I was feeling sorry for myself one day- “Snap out of this, look beyond yourself, and see how you can help others.”

When I think about how I feel when someone makes these comments to me, I also try to remember what my good friend said when I was talking to her about this very thing. “Meagan,” she said. “We have God, and if it’s right, we will meet nice guys one day. Either way, we’re good.”

God loves you

Consider the following passage. It comes from Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

A friend shared this verse with me, and it has really helped. This has been a reminder to me when I don’t understand why things in my life are going the way they are. When I feel down, I read this passage and realize that God loves me and has a plan for me, even when I am not sure what that plan is. I am valuable to Him. Much more valuable than birds. No amount of worrying will change anything or make anything better. In fact, worrying just makes me feel worse. And as my friend said, what is the point of worrying? If God decks out wildflowers and grass and makes them beautiful, then He is certainly going to take care of me. It is not easy to always remember this, but I believe it with all my heart. No matter what is going on in your life, talk to God about it. He understands and He is there for you.