Charlie Chaplin

I saw some of Charlie Chaplin's work on Turner Classic Movies recently. I saw some of his silent films and excerpts from his later films, and there were clips on his life. He was not only a genius, but he was a beautiful loving soul.

I have to tell you that in many ways I am a prude. I don’t approve of marital infidelity. I do not approve of older men going for sixteen year old girls. And so on, and so on. Surely I know the folly of making judgments, and yet knowing that doesn’t seem to have stopped me.

Charlie Chaplin was routinely unfaithful. He went for sixteen year olds. But, you know what, he was never a prude. And he did not going around passing judgment on people. He was a beautiful shining soul who made the whole world smile. He brought tender films to the world. It has to be he was a High Being.

How much does it matter how he lived his life. That wasn’t the point of his life. How much he gave to the world and those in it is more to the point. What does anyone’s approval or disapproval have to do with the essence of anyone's life? He came from love. And he was a beautiful exponent of acceptance.

I don’t think he judged himself either. He was not hard on himself -- unless it applied to his work. He did not make super-human demands on himself. He sure lived life. No one could say he didn’t.

He saw differently from how many see or pretend to see. He pretended nothing except in his art.

Charlie Chaplin reminds me of perspective. God in Heavenletters™ tells us to gain a new perspective. How many times has God said enough of finding fault?

Much of Charlie Chaplin’s childhood was spent in debtor’s prison with his single mother. I don’t know how they got out. Whatever might have been owed, he gave a hundred-million times over in his art and in his generosity.

From debtor’s prison came genius. I don’t approve of debtor’s prison either, but look at what an orchid came from there!