God has a great way of answering prayers. Just last week, I was pondering what it was like to be a child again. Having the child-like faith to believe in the things that are larger than life, things that seem impossible to achieve with one's natural efforts. Having the courage to believe that there was more to life than this ...
While juggling homework, thinking about work and life over the Chinese New Year holidays, I must confess it wasn't all hard work ... really. I had many moments of vegging in front of the telly.
Tonight, I found myself mesmerized with Star Movies' after-dinner program "Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium". It was exactly what I needed to see and hear ... and have the courage to believe once again.The story is about Mr Magorium (Dustin Hoffman), a 243-year old eccentric toy inventor who built a magical toy store called "Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium," where magic makes everything come alive. Wonders never cease at his store and children spend all day playing and letting their imaginations run wild.
And when Mr Magorium decides that it was time to leave the world for good, he entrusts the store to his manager Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman). He employs an accountant Henry Weston (Jason Bateman) whom he calls "Mutant" to valuate the store and get the necessary paper work for the transfer of ownership.
Henry, the stuffy accountant, does not believe in magic. But of course!
Meanwhile, Molly is devastated with the news because she doesn't believe she can run the store. After all she was just a girl who aspired to be a pianist but ended up working in a toy store all these years.
The "magical" store, too, is upset that Mr. Magorium is leaving and throws a fit. The store deteriorates in appearance and the toys loose their sparkle.
Before departing, Mr Magorium encourages Molly, "Life is an occasion. Rise to it!"
Mr Magorium dies (as all good things eventually comes to an end), the magic leaves with him. Upon seeing the dull interiors of the store, Molly looses all hope and seeks to sell the store.
Nine-year-old Eric, a store helper and one who has befriended Henry the Mutant encourages Molly to keep the store and run it. "It's not so bad. It just needs a bit more magic!" he says.
The Mutant who has since experienced a bit of magic after seeing the "Congreve block" (a wooden cube) move and whizzed around the store finally believes. He, too, encourages Molly to keep the store. He believes she can run the store.
"You can make it to be anything you want it to be," Henry tells Molly.
Don't you see, you are like that block of wood (the Congreve block). "What you need to believe in is not ... the store, or me. What you need to believe in is you."
Suddenly, Molly sparkles. She believes and the sparkle that reflects the greater things in life comes forth. Magic fills the store once again and everything comes alive, and the next chapter begins.
As a reviewer aptly puts, "... the truth is, there's nothing wrong with following our hearts as long as we lend our brains and our souls to the proposition, too. God created in each one of us talent, passion and drive to do ... something.
"Throughout most of this story, Mahoney closes her ears to that calling. And the music doesn't soar until she opens them. She's not escaping responsibility or relationships. She's finally embracing them.
"I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast," Eric Liddell says in Chariots of Fire. "And when I run I feel His pleasure."
"We are God's creatures, and each of us carry a sparkle - something greater than ourselves trying to get out. And believing in yourself enough (being courageous enough) to make that happen, well, that's a great thing indeed."
And what of the next chapter that is about to unfold?
I will take Mr Magorium's advice.
I will turn the page. "Continue reading. And let the next story begin."
I will be like a child and believe ... that there is truly more to life than this!
Go catch the movie on Astro's Star Movies. Be like a child again. And believe!
