Meditation, Movie Review

Last week husband and I went to see Fireproof.

No, not because it starred Kirk Cameron. And not because we are people who go out and buy every evangelical gimmick that comes down the pike. My guilty gimmick is fad diet books, not Christian propaganda. Our pastor actually recommended it (the movie, not the fad diet books), largely basing his recommendation on the beautiful story of its making, which might be more powerful than the film itself. The movie is produced by a company called Sherwood Pictures, part of the movie-making ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia.

I love the idea of a church collaborating creatively to express Biblical truths in this powerful media of our time. I love that nearly all the actors in the film are members of this church and are continuing to act together, not onscreen, but in real life. I love that on the night we went, the theater was packed with couples, families, and singles, young, and old, and during poignant moments onscreen we could hear people around us whispering, "yes, exactly. that is what it's like." I was a little surprised there were no "Amens!" I imagine there were in Albany, Georgia on opening night. And I love that this was a film about real life, long past the Romantic-Comedic ending that is two people finding each other and getting married after they resolve all their issues.

Least effective for me was the first 20 minutes--viewers used to Hollywood Sensory Overload, special effects, and, Gilmore Girl speed-speech need to get used to the slower pace, dialogue, amateur acting (it's a church, not Broadway) and...cleanliness of the jokes and music.

Most effective for me was how strongly and sweetly this movie portrayed the small, significant steps that make or break marriages. The story begins in the heart of the storm, showing a home torn by strife, bitterness, loneliness, disrespect and the raging infidelity that affects 47% of Christian homes today (according to World Magazine).

The couple is headed for divorce, when the husband, under the wise guidance of his father, agrees to a last resort: a "love dare" challenging him to do one small thing for his wife each day. Much of the film charts his attempts at these labors of love and his wife's harsh and confused response. But even random acts of kindness don't work without a serious change of heart.

This movie spoke so much to me about what marriage is: for better or for worse, richer, or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death to us part, and, this film might add: every single moment of every single day, by the Grace of God, through Christ Jesus our Lord. I was so touched by the husband's small and great works of love, going unnoticed and unwelcome for so long until the song of grace became too deafening for the wife to ignore. And this husband was not alone: he was supported by the prayers of his parents and friends, and depending on Christ for the miracle that is every working marriage. It also helped that he had his own private camp with an outdoor chapel. I so want our own private camp.

I could feel pride seeping in at times while I watched: "Man, I'm glad our marriage is not like that! I would never behave that way to my husband! Phew, I guess we're doing pretty good here." And then it was revealed to me: it is only by God's grace that we aren't that couple, and it is only by His kindness that He will keep us from such a precipice. A marriage that is successful by Christian standards is an easy thing to pat ourselves on the back over, but the reality is that it's all about Jesus and his work in the home. Christian determinism? Hardly. We are given a role. It's completely up to us whether we will sit back in His hands and enjoy the ride while He carries us where He wants us to go or whether we fight Him kicking and screaming. And our response will greatly affect all who know us. But when we stand up and look where we've come, we have only Him to thank when we find we're in a good place. And if we love Him, we know He will always take us to a Good Place.

Once I overheard two men talking. One said to the other (roughly): "I have married a woman whom God has crafted to be like Himself. There's no way I could have set myself up for that. At the time I got married, I couldn't even imagine such a thing."

We like to credit ourselves with our successes, be in marriage or life. We like to say we chose the right person or made the right investment. Such talk is folly. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

Oh, and I do recommend this movie. And I definitely want our own private camp. Husband?