Movies & Stories of God

Vanessa and I love to watch movies. Over the past couple of weeks we went to see 2 movies that were filled with images and story-lines that reflect God's heart and the teachings of Scripture.

Gran Torino is a Clint Eastwood movie about a crusty, angry, independent retiree who hates most everything about his life -- especially the fact that his wife died before him.  His neighborhood has eroded and he is now a minority in a community now dominated by Hmong (mountain people from Southeast Asia).

Lessons from Gran Torino:

• Many people must be pursued relentlessly by someone of faith before they will ever consider God's claim on their life.  The young Catholic priest is a great representative of God to Clint Eastwood, as he repeatedly shows up in Eastwood's neighborhood and even the bar, seeking to talk with him and be his friend.
• Sometimes we learn neighborliness from surprising places and people. The people you are least alike may be the very ones who can demonstrate Christ-likeness (even if they don't know Christ).
• There are plenty of people in the world who need someone to show them how to do the most basic things.  The relationship that occurs between Eastwood and the teenage Hmong boy next door will inspire you to look around for someone who needs to be taught and mentored in life skills.
• Even angry, vindictive people can be touched by Grace and become agents of Grace to others.

 Then  we spent an evening watching Liam Neeson portray a father whose 17 year old daughter had been kidnapped in Paris.  What a marvelous picture of a Father who will turn heaven and earth upside down to pursue, find, and rescue his child.

Messages of inspiration and pictures of Godly qualities don't always come packaged in "Christian" movies.  Sometimes, even when the writer or director are unaware, they inadvertently reveal God to us.