Daily Dialogue —January 31, 2018

“People break down into two groups. When they experience something lucky, group number one sees it as more than luck, more than coincidence. They see it as a sign, evidence, that there is someone up there, watching out for them. Group number two sees it as just pure luck. Just a happy turn of chance. I’m sure the people in group number two are looking at those fourteen lights in a very suspicious way. For them, the situation is a fifty-fifty. Could be bad, could be good. But deep down, they feel that whatever happens, they’re on their own. And that fills them with fear. Yeah, there are those people. But there’s a whole lot of people in group number one. When they see those fourteen lights, they’re looking at a miracle. And deep down, they feel that whatever’s going to happen, there will be someone there to help them. And that fills them with hope. See what you have to ask yourself is what kind of person are you? Are you the kind that sees signs, that sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky? Or, look at the question this way: Is it possible that there are no coincidences?”

— Signs (2002), written by M. Night Shyamalan

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Whisper.

Trivia: The film grew out of M. Night Shyamalan’s idea to show an alien invasion from the point of view of one family.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Graham (Mel Gibson) is a preacher who has lost his faith after the death of his wife in a car crash. Here, he lays a little theological wisdom on his brother Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix) made all the more powerful by it being whispered. Powerful words at a low volume.