I went to see that hit chick flick Julie & Julia for the second time last night because my daughter was dying to see it and because I can never get enough of Meryl Streep. For those who don’t know, it’s the story of Julia Child in Paris when she first found that cooking was her passion, alternating with the story of Julie Powell in New York half a century later as she blogs her way through Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking (which I can’t help noticing is ranked #3 on amazon today). After months of struggle and frustration, Julie gets covered in the New York Times and receives a slew of phone messages from editors, clearly the break that lead to her book and subsequent movie deal. Meanwhile Child labors for over eight years on her famous cookbook. The film ends with Julia opening the package that contains the first copy.

It was especially fun to see this week, as I just got my first copy of The Wisdom to Know the Difference. Some of you have already seen the picture my daughter took to post on Facebook. What strikes me, looking at the long list of comments the picture received, and thinking more deeply about the movie, is the role that support from other people plays in helping us follow our passions/callings. Julie, Julia, and I all were supported by wonderfully patient husbands who never once said, “When are you going to make some more money, honey?” even if they thought it. We all had friends (though Julie seems to leave behind the ones who weren’t supportive). We all had family. Other people may comment on Julie and Julia’s determination, but what I see is community and love enabling that determination. 

At first I hesitated to bring my twelve-year-old to a PG 13 movie, but I’m glad I did. I’m pretty sure she missed the crudest (and funniest) sexual reference. The others were all between loving, committed couples and not at all crude or exploitative, the way some movie sexuality is. What she got to see were two different women finding what they love to do, sticking with it when it was hard, and then being recognized for their work, all within the context of love. I couldn’t wish for more for my daughter, or myself.