We saw Four Christmases last night. What a dismal way to end a
delightful Christmas day. It just seemed like a movie would be fun
after the company left, and it was close and short and not too late. The write-up in the paper indicated that it would be the typical
dysfunctional family holiday movie, but that it ended on a hopeful
note. And Reese Witherspoon is so cute, how bad could it be?
Well, I guess we live in a society where movies like that make people
feel better about their sad families. So they sell, somewhat. A movie
that makes you say, well, at least my family's not that bad.
And people buy a ticket and go - it was actually #1 at the box office a
few weeks ago. I just hope more people attended Christmas Eve church
services than attended that movie. Problem is, if you start using
phrases like "abundant life" and "Savior," you're dismissed as being
too "churchy," even though the church and the Bible actually offer real
hope that families don't have to be like that.
I'm beginning to understand why people at my church are so excited
about short-term mission trips. My doctor friend told me once that he
goes to other countries to offer his skills to poor people because you
can't do it here in this country. In other countries, you can relieve
a little pain and people are grateful. Here, you can relieve pain and
get sued because you couldn't cure their cancer. I think that in other places
people recognize their spiritual hunger and they're grateful when you
bring Christ's message of hope. Here, people look for a movie review
with a suggestion of hope at the end and buy a ticket. I guess I'm
just sorry that I didn't stay home and bask in the memories of a nice
get-together with my family, and maybe plug in the "Nativity Story" DVD
that I got in my stocking.
Abbey went to Ecuador a few weeks ago and had a fantastic time bringing
hope to lots of people. Read about it at
www.firstchurch.net/FirstNews20081218.pdf if you want to. Susanna helped serve
dinner to homeless people at the Hyatt Regency on Christmas Eve, and
had a great time. I didn't do much for others this season, so I hope
I'll remember that next year and do better, before I buy a ticket to
the depressing-holiday-movie-of-the-year.
We really had a nice day. Maybe I wouldn't have been tempted to end it
at the movie theater if Mom's last words at the end of the day hadn't
been "well, we got through it." She's carrying a lot of burdens for
her grandchildren right now. Guess I can't blame her. But I'm quite
proud of my 3 of the lot.
Totally redeemed it later that day with Benjamin Button though, right? I mean, not exactly like your feel-good holiday movie, but it WAS kind of beautiful. I really liked it. But I can beat your dysfunctional family holiday movie -- we watched There Will Be Blood on Sunday and my ultimate review was "Not quite as soul-killing as people had led me to expect." It was well-done, but not exactly an upper, either. :) Next year we'll just do Wonderful Life for the eightieth time and leave it that until the New Year.
Posted by: Abbey | 12/29/2008 at 10:31 AM