Every year at this time, starting with Good Friday, I (like so many others) reflect on the weekend of Easter and what it has become in Americana lore and what it truly is. The differences between the two are quite amazingly different.
The Americana lore will have you think that for some very strange reason, we celebrate a magical talking bunny that has the voice of the unfunny Russell Brand, hides eggs in the yard and (according to the latest cutesy digitally animated movie, Hop) poops jelly beans. What is there to "celebrate" there?
The truth is far more meaningful. And far more Hopeful.
Every year for the past ten years or so, I've read excerpts from a book called 'Six Hours One Friday' by Max Lucado. There is one chapter specifically that culminates all my hopes and focuses my heart and mind once again. It is Chapter 13, "The Eleventh Hour Gift". In this chapter, I am moved at the turning of a hardened heart-- a thief also crucified beside Christ. He started his day as the lowest in his society, paying the price of his thievery and poor judgment. He even mocked Christ. But, then he did something none of the other mockers did... he watched him. He watched as Christ prayed for those who spat upon him and beat him, he watched him as he seemed to invite the nails to pierce his skin. This changed the man that was a thief. This changed his heart and as he watched Christ, he wanted to be with Christ. All he did was ask. And Christ said, "yes." In the final moments of his wayward and self-destructive life, the thief found the truth and he found forgiveness. He was awarded peace.
In all our faults and all of our failures, even in a destroyed life, Christ renews and saves. We just have to watch him and ask to know.
One of my favorite movies relates to this very topic and I would say is a modern retelling of this thief's story. The movie is called "The 25th Hour" and stars Edward Norton, Rosario Dawson, Barry Pepper, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Anna Paquin and Brian Cox. It is an amazingly told story from Director Spike Lee.
In this story, we find Edward Norton as a prominent drug dealer and thief in a post-9/11 New York City. He has been arrested and while he's out on bail, he starts to rethink his life and the mistakes he's made. On his last night as a free man, he gathers with his closest friends, imparting apologies and repairing damage he's caused. He gives them gifts and says his good byes. He sits with his father for his last meal as a free man and his father talks him through the choice of lives he could have; one life as the drug dealer and thief and another of a life filled with love and redemption.
"Say the word, son, and we'll start a new life."
This is an amazing movie. The last 20 minutes really brings home the feelings and hopes of a better life that we could choose. We just have to choose it. We have to watch and ask.
I hope you had a wonderful and true Easter.
Enjoy,
Brice
No comments:
Post a Comment