Happy 2013.  Last night, after enjoying a shrimp cocktail and salad, my husband and I sat down to "enjoy" a movie:  Amistad.  Steven Spielberg has a reputation for 'excellency' when it comes to making films and he did not disappoint with this one.

I was at first so shocked by the violence, blood and horribleness portraying these true events, that I almost felt like stopping the DVR.  However, because this is a film based on true events...I managed to look away in disgust when it was too much and hang on to see the outcome of the poor tutored souls who had the misfortune of being treated as chattel.

After a great while and enduring some degree of hope for freedom and return to Africa, the main character, Chinque shared his confidence in the outcome with Anthony Hopkins who plays former President John Quincy Adams who had become their attorney.   Adams was representing the poor retched souls who had lived through their capture by slave traders after their case had been appealed to the Supreme Court.  Cinque said, which I found to be quite poignant, that he was going to call for his "ancestors" to come to his aid (and they would in turn aid his lawyer).  I believe Hopkins responded, "Why would they do that?" to which Chinque answered, "I am the whole reason they existed at all."

"I am the whole reason they existed at all."  Every living person is proof that someone else has been alive.  That struck me as amazingly simple and yet thought provoking.  How easily we can "forget" those who came before us, but in the Mende culture, they must have revered their ancestors and drew from their strength.  Obviously, they had been taught this and unfortunately most likely in a mystical sense.

I had an interesting surprise some years ago when my mother-in-law shared a picture she had held on to of what proved to be a great, great, great, great, great grandfather of my son....and when looking at it....apart from the style of clothing and hair, you would have thought it was my son's photograph!  This would indicate to me just how important 'genes' are since this many generations down...there is such a strong resemblance to that particular ancestor.

I've never taken the time to look into my ancestry--Perhaps I would know myself better if I did.  Do you find this whole idea of your presence on planet earth being the whole reason they (ancestors) existed at all as thought provoking as I do?  They had children in hopes they would have children and so on!  And I'm sure each one was hoping for a better life for their descendants.

Today I began to read from the book of Genesis as a New Year's resolution to read through the Bible (again) this year and our "Creator" (who I hope you know) was instructing every living thing to "multiply."  We are the result of HIS Creation and we can do good with that instruction or bad.  There will be multiplication...now which kind do we hope to see in 2013?  If you are the whole reason your ancestors existed...prove to them that you can make them proud.  Do good!

Blessings to all in 2013!!!