Hide Away in The Love of Jesus...

^Ben Barnes as Dorian Gray in the 2009 version^
(I haven't seen this one nor do I recommend it)

If you love classic literature, you've probably heard of Oscar Wilde, the author of many famous plays like The Importance of Being Earnest or An Ideal Husband.

He also wrote one novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. We rented the 1945 movie version and enjoyed it very much.

I was so moved by the story that I wrote one of my English papers contrasting Dorian Gray with Oscar Wilde's other works.

Here's an excerpt:

In The Picture of Dorian Gray, a beautiful young man, Dorian Gray, wishes that he would never grow older. Instead, a painting of him slowly changes to reveal his true ugliness...As Dorian grows older and his sinister personality develops, his looks remain the same, while the painting distorts into a horrific piece of work...Audiences, who find that they can see themselves in the main character, may feel that their own souls are revealed in Dorian’s picture. Everyone, like Dorian, wishes to hide their faults. The shameful truth about man’s ability to do evil is not often accepted...

I highly encourage you to rent the movie or read the book--it's a very humbling and haunting experience.

As a music lover, I was very attracted to the prelude that Dorian plays in the movie. It never fails to send chills up my spine. Here it is: (Chopin Prelude No. 24 Opus 28 played by Pollini)



Every time I hear this piece, I am so haunted by my own guilt in my likeness to Dorian.

Most of all, I am reminded of the wondrous grace of God that I can I hide away in the love of Jesus.

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
Isaiah 53:4

Blessings,