Christian Living
Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday February 5, 2008
Most people think they never look at a profit and loss statement as they are employees and such things do not concern them. If this is the case with you, I have news for you. Profit and loss, with many subtle twists is woven throughout the pages of scripture and is an intrinsic part of daily life, no matter what you do for a living.
I have attempted to make my mark in life as a preacher, doing the things that preachers historically do, telling folks the good news, writing about the good news, running around the world with the same basic message though often dressed in different garments. In doing this I have noticed that people wrestle with the same few themes they find important especially when a life or death crisis hits them right between the eyes.
A current movie illustrates my point and does so in the most graphic manner I have ever seen. Oh, get me right I have watched truckloads of Christian films designed to bring folks from the real world into the saccharin, imaginary world of modern religionists, but having lived in a brutally real world prior to conversion, they fall pathetically short in the portrayal of reality and even more so in the portrait of modern Christendom.
Deep down in their hearts people care about family, about what happens after death and in general what is life really all about. Most books, films and lectures are designed to make us feel better about these deep spiritual issues without hitting the nail on the head. The Bucket List faces this inner battle head on.
Edward Cole is a fabulously wealthy hedonist who has thrown off any kind of moral or civilized constraint and Carter, a poor black mechanic with a brilliant mind meet in a cancer ward. You would be hard pressed to find two men more opposite in life view and status. They set off on a long list of things to do before they "Kick the bucket" and in doing this many of the great issues of life are explored as each uses the other as foil. After the journey of things to do, they return home and here is the most graphic portrayal of a line from Jesus I have ever seen in all my put togethers. (Mountain phrase for long life).
As they part ways, Carter goes home to a modest, grown family who welcome him home with open arms of love; a Thanksgiving style feast is portrayed, with kids and grandchildren loving on Carter, a scene near holy along the lines of American Gothic.
Edward Cole wealthy tycoon extraordinaire goes back to his opulent office building gets a packaged meal out of a vending machine and fusses his way through this meal. Alone.
Though the verse of Jesus is not shown on the screen, the truth of it literally leaps off the silver:
Mark 8:36 "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
Larry Lilly Copyright © 2008 Use with credit
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