THE GREEN BOOK

I love story...whether a book, movie, or podcast, I just love them, especially when they come from another human being.  But they have to be true, or at least based on a true story.  Never been much of a fiction fan, though I can understand why some truly are. Does that mean I'm not a fan of such stories like Lord of the Rings, the Rocky series, Seinfeld, etc?  No, it just means if I'm to make a choice and spend the most precious commodity, time, then I'm all in for true.

I'm a horrible memorizer.  I once had to memorize word for word Matthew 5, 6, and 7;  punctuation and verses, NIV of course...this was in 1995.  I passed, barely.  The only way I can even remember lines is if I write them down, and even then, I have to remember where I wrote it!  Some of you might be able to relate, some of you have already ordered me an app on your phone or clicked on Amazon to help me become a bit more organized.  Gifts as such are always appreciated.  Allow me to get to my point.

Yesterday evening I spent two hours watching a movie entitled "The Green Book."  Let me not waste your time explaining it, but for the record it is based on a true story.  If you're a person who can't stand Hollywood for all the pollution it provides our brains, then I'd just encourage you to stop reading now...because this portion comes from a movie, and yes, there is some language which would not be appropriate for all audiences. Those of you still with me, here it is:

"The world is full of lonely people waiting to make the first move"

This line stopped me in my tracks...literally.  I pressed pause on my laptop and just sat there, and kept sitting there, reeling and reeling it over and over again.  Context seems to be pertinent for what I'm about to say.  In the movie, a man is sore about never hearing from his brother.  His friend simply says, maybe your the one who needs to make the first move.  The scene ends.  But that line...wow, for me, it's powerful and so so true.  

Hurt is crippling, some if not most, take it to their graves.  And for me, this is just plain sad.  I don't know where you are in life, but let me tell you this, all of us have hurts.  Some of us are just better at hiding them.  This past year has been a year of forgiveness, for me, from others, and from God.  True forgiveness isn't easy, but it is entirely possible.  Jesus promises us it is.  But here's the sorry truth...most of us are waiting...waiting to forgive and waiting to be forgiven.  Burdens are killing us, and I mean in all aspects of the word kill.  Time doesn't heal...but time plus Jesus always heals.  Burdens and chains can fall, but often times, we have to be willing to make the first move.