Harry Potter

I have watched Harry Potter before and really enjoyed it, but as I watched it again tonight I got a lot more out of it. I was pleasantly surprised. Toward the end of the movie, after Harry had told Hermione that she was a greater wizard than he, she responded,

“Me? Books, cleverness…There are more important things. Friendship and bravery.”

That definitely impressed me and as a student like them, it impressed upon me a strong need for understanding what I am studying and why I am studying it…However, what struck me most this time when I watched the movie was what Professor Dumbledore had to say to Harry as they looked into the Mirror of Erised.

“Back again Harry? I see that you, like many others before you have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised. I trust now, you realize what it does. Let me give you a clue. The happiest man on earth would look in the mirror and only see himself exactly as he is.”

“So then, it shows us what we want…Whatever we want?”

“Yes, and no. It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest and most desperate desires of our hearts. Now you Harry, who have never known your family, you see them standing beside you. But remember this, Harry, this mirror gives us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away in front of it, even gone mad. That is why tomorrow it will be moved to a new home. And I must ask you not to go looking for it again. It does not do to dwell on dreams, Harry, and forget to live.”

As I heard these words, spoken so slowly, articulately and emulating such old wisdom, I felt very moved. Moved enough to find the exact words from a script and see them again. However, I think I prefer the spoken words, hearing this wisdom from the experience of an older and wiser man than myself. Remembering to live, focusing on living, truly living…I think that is one of the first steps to take before I can look into that mirror and see myself as I am.