(Your Name) Almighty

I am not going into the topic of religions. It is too immense of a controversy for myself alone; the last thing I intend is to start a riot among believers of various ethnic groups. And I do believe that... when you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are.

Being in the semi-pit that I am, in the midst of a marvel called life, Bruce Almighty served as an inspiring episode. Here are a few thoughts.

I can't recall having prayed ever since I graduated from high school. Neither would I consider what we were required to do in a Catholic school "praying", it was simply reciting certain poetry at certain times of the day. For those who pray to God for things they want, God said, "Since when does anyone have a clue about what they want?" This cannot be more true. I have missed count of incidences like considering switching majors four times each semester for the first three and a half years of college, or trying to decide on a career path (ha, as if I were given choices), or spending 15 minutes studying a drink menu, and in the end, can only come up with the answer "I don't know what I want, I only know what I don't want."

Is there a guideline to what kinds of things we can/cannot ask for from God? Is getting your prayers answered a mere stroke of luck? Like a "you wished for six things out of a possible 49, God grants you only one out of six, better luck next time" kind of deal? Are we confusing God with Santa Claus? And even so, my last letter sent to the North Pole has not yet been answered. I'm not saying praying is a waste of time. But if you have faith in what God says in Bruce Almighty, chances are, much of your wish list can be slashed off. Besides, in a world where we need digits and graphs to support just about everything, are we still able to realize it when God answers our prayers? "Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous" is director of Bruce Almighty, Tom Shadyac's favorite saying. Speaking of coincidences, read this freaky story reported by 20/20.

God (played by Morgan Freeman) said the problem with people is that they are always looking up and hence fail to realize the power that lies in their own hands. Have we become too dependent on God? There's a story about a nun who went to God and asked, "Why God don't you do something about the poor and the sick?" And He said, "I did, I made you." Now that's powerful. Rather than hoping that God will use his power to make things better for us, isn't it more reassuring to believe that such power comes with when He creates each and every one of us? All of God's creations are miracles, and so we are. But life is God's way of playing hide-and-seek with us, the object being to discover that potential miracle from within ourselves, which He had hidden so well.

And when you succeed in finding that miraculous power within yourself, ye may too stretch out your arms and holler, "I am (your name) Almighty! My will be done!"

For the director's view of the film, check out this interview.