Are you familiar with the Love Comes Softly series of films based on books by Janet Ochs and directed by Michael Landon Jr.? Well, here’s to a group of films that seem to be a hotbed of controversy despite their simplicity and beauty. Maybe you don’t see how these movies could be controversial. Let me explain.

Last week I checked Love’s Unending Legacy out of my local library - a great find, I think considering it was produced in 2007 and the story line was absolutely touching and chick-flicky.

My significant other, who I call Mystic on this blog, came in to ask if I’d watched the movie yet. “Yes,” I told him. “I watched it last night. It was SUCH a GOOD movie!”

He gets a sick look on his face and rolls his eyes.

“Oh, you don’t think so?” I said. “I love the simplicity, the love stories, and the fact that God is part of these movies.”

“That’s the problem,” he said. “I don’t need Christianity shoved down my throat.” He then launched into a soliloquy from which I had no recourse. Past experience had taught me not to dare getting a word in edgewise until he says, “You have nothing to say?” And then I’d better be careful what I say.

What I finally said was, “Okay, go watch your violence and bloodshed. To each his own.”

Honestly, I don’t see any problem with the way Christianity is depicted in these films. It isn’t all “in your face” type proselytizing. It is just a gentle matter of fact that American pioneer families were predominantly Christian and the church was a huge part of their social life. If they sit down at the dinner table to say grace, that’s a realistic part of the story, not an attempt on the part of the producer to introduce subliminal suggestions to convert viewers.

Honestly, I’m not a Christian, in fact, I think I may have found my guru and I’m thrilled about that, and still doing quite a bit of seeking to decide… and I’m totally not a joiner. (Been there done that and then literally gave away the t-shirt after 30+ years servitude.) But Christian or no, I absolutely LOVE seeing people relate to God and express their spirituality in these precious movies - which were created from novels written by Janet Ochs. Who can object to that?

Anyhow, if you want a decent, heart warming family-centered movie, the Love Comes Softly series is excellent.

I’m totally into learning about gurus these days. I created a Squidoo page called Gurus Online and added gurus and a big photo of Paramahansa Yogananda to my MySpace page. I even wrote a bit about Paramahansa Yogananda on my blog, Geniyyah Healing. So when I came across YouTube videos of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, also known as Amma, the hugging saint, I was intrigued and wanted to see her full-length movie, Darshan: The Embrace.

Oh my goodness. This movie is so artfully done, it is a feast for the eyes and hearts of those who yearn for a glimpse into the interior workings of a spiritual ashram, and who desire a taste of what it means to be in India. Besides the views of Amma with her big happy smiles, and her devotees circling around her, the scenery of India was the best part of this movie. The cinematographer did an outstanding job.

Everything about Darshan: The Embrace is pure art. There’s no other way to describe it. This is not a run of the mill movie. It is for people who love viewing the inner heart of an ancient country and culture. It is sure to appeal even to people who aren’t into gurus the way I am.

Amma gets a tremendous amount of devotion from her devotees. It looks like she’s the humble recipient of a constant stream of good chi. She’s also willing to literally dish it out by serving food to whoever needs it. She arranged to have a dinner once weekly, and also a darshan session once weekly. Her darshan is remarkable because she lovingly takes her devotees into her arms and hugs and kisses them. This is beautiful to watch, but the awe-inspiring thing is in knowing that she can sit for many hours, all day long and then some, hugging whoever comes by in her darshan line. Her popularity has grown so much that her darshans require a huge effort. No wonder she cut down from twice weekly to once weekly! She really is a remarkable woman with a huge heart full of love to share.

Darshan: The Embrace is highly recommended for cinematography, or spirituality, or both.

Here’s a CNN report about Amma:

A few books by or about Amma: