Mirrors
Monday, August 31, 2009
I watched Legends of the Fall the other night. Remember that movie? Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn, Henry Thomas, Brad Pitt? Hopkins plays Colonel Ludlow, an old war hero who is disillusioned with the evils of civilization. So he builds a homestead on the mountainside, hoping to create a new paradise for his wife and three boys. He embarks on a quest to "lose the madness over the mountains and begin again."
And yet, even in an unadulterated setting, the wife leaves, and the boys--raised alone by Ludlow--struggle with pride, envy, ego. Despite radical efforts to protect his sons, all three boys follow in Ludlow's regretted footsteps -- they enlist in Europe's first World War. And as the movie-title suggests, the Fall is legendary, unescapable.
The youngest "treasured" son, Samuel, (played by Thomas) is killed in the war, essentially because of his glory-seeking idealism. Alfred (Quinn) returns from the war and turns on his law-evading family by pursuing politics to "govern" some good. The wayward, "wild" son is Tristan (Pitt) who runs from his war-wounds by becoming a ruthless hunter, debasing and devaluing himself.
It's a gut-wrenching story. The Father's fierce love for his children, the only redeeming thread.
I identify with all three boys -- sometimes rebellious and war-wounded, sometimes determined to overcome evil by following the letter of the law, sometimes idealistic and glory-seeking. The movie--a mirror for me--reflecting back cyclical patterns of un-love, dis-trust, anger, envy, pride.
I went forward on Sunday when the pastor invited children to come up for a sermon on "mirrors." I figured my rambunctious (and often wayward) five-year old would need help being a "good listener." A large, rectangular mirror was leaning against the altar horizontally, at eye-level, for those of us sitting cross-legged on the floor.
"Anyone who listens to the Word," Pastor started, "and does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. "
After reading the verse, he asked, "How many of you actually look into a mirror, like James 1:23 says, and then forget what you look like?"
Nobody raised their hand.
"It's kind of silly, isn't it?" he asked. "Who looks into a mirror and forgets? Do you fix your hair, adjust your clothes, walk away, and then forget? Or do you remember?"
Most kids agreed (including myself) that they DO remember what they look like, and that the verse didn't really make sense.
Until Pastor put it this way. . .
"The Bible is a mirror. And when we look into it and walk away, do we remember what we look like? Do we remember that we are children of God, fiercely loved and completely forgiven? Or do we live like we forget?"
Lately, I live like I forget. I'm all too aware of my place in The Fall. And it's been a LOOOONG time since I've taken a good look in God's mirror. I can identify with Colonel Ludlow's quest to "lose the madness over the mountains and begin again." I am eager to stand before God's word more faithfully, so he can remind me of my true condition after The Fall:
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Cor 5:17)
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the light." (Eph 5:8)
"Awake, awake, Cheri, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendor. Shake off your dust; Rise up, sit enthroned. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion. For this is what the Lord says: 'You were sold for nothing and without money you will be redeemed.'" (Isaiah 52:1-3)
The Bible--a perfect mirror for me--reflecting my true nature, the beauty forged from God's faithful, fierce, redeeming love. A love that looks at me and never forgets the Cross.
And yet, even in an unadulterated setting, the wife leaves, and the boys--raised alone by Ludlow--struggle with pride, envy, ego. Despite radical efforts to protect his sons, all three boys follow in Ludlow's regretted footsteps -- they enlist in Europe's first World War. And as the movie-title suggests, the Fall is legendary, unescapable.
The youngest "treasured" son, Samuel, (played by Thomas) is killed in the war, essentially because of his glory-seeking idealism. Alfred (Quinn) returns from the war and turns on his law-evading family by pursuing politics to "govern" some good. The wayward, "wild" son is Tristan (Pitt) who runs from his war-wounds by becoming a ruthless hunter, debasing and devaluing himself.
It's a gut-wrenching story. The Father's fierce love for his children, the only redeeming thread.
I identify with all three boys -- sometimes rebellious and war-wounded, sometimes determined to overcome evil by following the letter of the law, sometimes idealistic and glory-seeking. The movie--a mirror for me--reflecting back cyclical patterns of un-love, dis-trust, anger, envy, pride.
I went forward on Sunday when the pastor invited children to come up for a sermon on "mirrors." I figured my rambunctious (and often wayward) five-year old would need help being a "good listener." A large, rectangular mirror was leaning against the altar horizontally, at eye-level, for those of us sitting cross-legged on the floor.
"Anyone who listens to the Word," Pastor started, "and does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. "
After reading the verse, he asked, "How many of you actually look into a mirror, like James 1:23 says, and then forget what you look like?"
Nobody raised their hand.
"It's kind of silly, isn't it?" he asked. "Who looks into a mirror and forgets? Do you fix your hair, adjust your clothes, walk away, and then forget? Or do you remember?"
Most kids agreed (including myself) that they DO remember what they look like, and that the verse didn't really make sense.
Until Pastor put it this way. . .
"The Bible is a mirror. And when we look into it and walk away, do we remember what we look like? Do we remember that we are children of God, fiercely loved and completely forgiven? Or do we live like we forget?"
Lately, I live like I forget. I'm all too aware of my place in The Fall. And it's been a LOOOONG time since I've taken a good look in God's mirror. I can identify with Colonel Ludlow's quest to "lose the madness over the mountains and begin again." I am eager to stand before God's word more faithfully, so he can remind me of my true condition after The Fall:
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Cor 5:17)
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the light." (Eph 5:8)
"Awake, awake, Cheri, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendor. Shake off your dust; Rise up, sit enthroned. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion. For this is what the Lord says: 'You were sold for nothing and without money you will be redeemed.'" (Isaiah 52:1-3)
The Bible--a perfect mirror for me--reflecting my true nature, the beauty forged from God's faithful, fierce, redeeming love. A love that looks at me and never forgets the Cross.
