I've always loved Mary Poppins. Her perfect mix of "spit-spot" practical firmness and sparkling fun and love strikes a cord in me (as no doubt it does in others). So when we borrowed the "Mary Poppins" DVD from the library, I was delighted that I would be able to once again be enchanted with this amazing heroine.
I was not prepared for the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious surprise I got. (Sorry, I had to put that pun in there. :P)
But before I reveal the surprise, let me give you some background.
I recently finished reading "Authentic Beauty" by Leslie Ludy. In it there are a few little sections written by her husband, Eric. These talk about how to inspire men to greater heights of "majestic manhood," how to inspire them to be "warrior-poets.*" As I read these sections, my heart cried "Yes, yes!! That's what I want the men around me to be!
Gentlemen, not course 'jerks,' as too many boys are now referred to as. And I want to be an gentle-woman, inspiring them to heights of true manhood by my actions, my words, my very presence!"
So now you know where my heart's been recently, my surprise will be properly set in context.
The surprise was this:
Mary Poppins:
Oh, it's a jolly holiday with you, Bert
Gentlemen like you are few
[Bert: A vanishing breed, that's me]
Though you're just a diamond
in the rough, Bert
Underneath your blood is blue!
You'd never think of pressing
your advantage
Forbearance is the hallmark of your creed
A lady needn't fear when you are near
Your sweet gentility is crystal clear!
Oh, it's a jolly holiday with you, Bert
A jolly, jolly holiday with you!
{As you all likely know, this is the verse that Mary sings to Bert on their "jolly holiday" in the chalk-picture country side. Mary is decked out in a glorious, frothy, old-fashioned dress and looks the picture of a radiant young woman brimming over with joy, fun, and love (see above picture). *Sigh*}
The words captured me. They rang down into my heart and filled me with awe and longing. "That's it! That's that glorious picture of a warrior-poet gentleman! That's what I want to see!" As I thought about the song more, I also thought of the words sung by Bert:
Oh it's a jolly 'oliday with Mary
Mary makes your 'eart so light!
When the day is gray and ordianry
Mary makes the sun shine bright!
Oh, 'appiness is bloomin' all around 'er
The daffodils are smilin' at the dove
When Mary 'olds your 'and
you feel so grand
Your 'eart starts beatin' like
a big brass band!
It's a jolly 'oliday with Mary
No wonder that it's Mary that we love!
Hang on a second! Read the words again. Do you see it? The lyrics show part of the reason
Bert is as
Mary sings - because
Mary herself helps
him be that gentleman, inspires him, fill his heart with true manhood, makes him "feel grand!"
How come I never knew there was such incredible depth to that happy-go-lucky song?! Isn't it just glorious!?
I'd also like to share something else. As I was searching for the exact lyrics to that verse, I came across an ad for lipstick. A lipstick that promised "100% more smoochable lips." I glanced from the ad to the lyrics marching down the page. I read them. And... I compared the ad to the lyrics. "100% more smoochable lips" vs "When the day is grey and ordinary, Mary makes the sun shine bright!" I don't think I need to tell you which paled, and which grew in greatness. It made me realise all over again how much more incredible God's plan for manhood and womanhood is compared to what the world has reduced them to.
In Christ,
Cassie xoxoxo
*: These two links are to the excerpts from "Authentic Beauty" that Eric Ludy wrote. They are about 'warrior-poet manhood' and they talk about how young women can spur the men around them towards it.
https://setapartgirl.com/magazine/article/09-1-10/warrior-poet-manhood-part-one
http://setapartgirl.com/magazine/article/11-1-10/warrior-poet-manhood-part-two
P.S. I discovered (through a friend) an amazing Christian band called "Sleeping at Last." Two of there songs especially caught my attention: "
Sun" and "
Saturn." Check them out!
