In the film Almost Famous, William Miller (Patrick Fugit), at the tender age of 15, finds himself, if not on the cover, on the payroll of Rolling Stone. It's the mid-seventies and William is tripping through the haze, coolness and bedlam of rock and roll.

Assigned to travel with the band, Stillwater, a modest opening act possibly on the verge of something greater, he just can't seem to get the interview he needs with Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup), the lead guitarist. Russell is always too busy getting stoned, getting into bed or getting on his tour bus.

Things progress. With a new manager, the band acquires a plane. On the down side, the pilots fly it into a storm (accidentally). The band members can smell the sizzle of the lightning flashing all around them. The plan lurches toward the ground below. The musicians believe they are about to die. Confessions (comically) ensue. For once, the facades fall away. They “get real” with each other.

However, that's not the only scene where reality rears its not-always-pleasant head. William has a loving, and arguably, over-protective mother. Once, while she is on the phone with him, pleading with him to take care of himself, Russell, grabbing the phone, tries to take charge, hoping to charm the mom into a state of equanimity.

A university professor, however, she is no slouch. She cuts through Russell's boozy sweet talk and confronts him about his own lifestyle. She challenges him to examine what he is doing to William and to make his life better than it is. Quoting Goethe she says, “Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid; it's not too late for you to become a person of substance.”

When we look inside ourselves, do we find much of substance, something that will stand the light of day, or the darkness of hard times? You might not like everything you see when you look inside. On the other hand, you will probably find some things you really do like about yourself.

Things of the first kind are the ones it's good to confess, and if possible, to confess them to God, renounce them and ask for forgiveness. In the second grouping are the things we should nurture, and if possible, thank the Creator for making them part of who we are. Confession and gratitude can become guideposts for how we live. If we allow them to we may find that, in fact, mighty forces do come to our aid.

Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
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