Tonight I was ready to just kick
back and watch a good movie. I didn't want to think to hard or be swept
away with an emotional movie that made me think to much. Have you ever
felt that way? I looked at all the new films on the video store's shelf
and just told my wife to pick out something she wanted to see. She had
heard some good things about the movie entitled "Pay it Forward" so we
took it home and put it in the VCR. I have to admit, I was sucked right
into this wonderfully moralistic film about a 7th grade boy named
Trevor, who after getting his first assignment for the year, set out to
change just three peoples lives with acts of kindness. Those people
would in turn, have to pay that act of kindness forward to three other
people. He had a grand idea, not just small acts of kindness but it had
to be something hard, grand, noble and life changing. And his idea took
hold and soon spread to other parts of the country. This was a fun
movie!
One of Trevor's chosen projects
was another young boy in his class that was always being picked on by
the school bullies. He wanted to stand up for him. To help him with his
dilemma. The first time he saw his friend being beaten up, Trevor
couldn't find the courage to help him. But after his idea spread and he
was interviewed on television, Trevor was once again given the chance to
help his buddy. Trevor sees his friend being beaten up again by the same
two bullies and valiantly rides his bike to the rescue of his friend.
Trevor jumps off his bike and begins to fight for his friend when one of
the two boys pulls out a knife from his pocket and stabs Trevor in the
stomach. Trevor falls to the ground and ultimately dies from his wound.
When the movie came to an end
like that I became incensed. I stormed out of the basement and found
myself out in my backyard enraged at the senseless ending to a good and
enjoyable movie. A kid with a noble idea to try to change just a little
bit of the world he lived in. I was angry! I had just wanted to kick
back and watch a no brainer for a movie and relax a bit but was taken in
by this film in ways I didn't want and didn't expect. But as I stood in
my backyard vowing not to ever watch that stupid movie again, thoughts
of Jesus began to overpower me.
What Jesus went through was
real, not fictional. What Jesus experienced was not thought up somewhere
in Hollywood. Jesus wasn't a fictional boy in a fictional movie. Jesus
came to this earth and loved people like you and me. Sinful, fallen
people. He showed us how much the Father in Heaven loves us by becoming
one of us. God Himself experienced all our hardships and tribulations.
Then, after showing us what God is really like, Jesus died on a bloody
cross so that we could have a new life, in Him. God paid the penalty for
our sins once and for all! He did it all so we can have an eternity with
Him. What a God! This was not just some random act of kindness. What
Jesus went through is beyond any suffering I could ever possibly
imagine. Yet, He did it all out of love for you and me. He knew that He
was going to die in our place and He still came.
One day there will be no more
pain or suffering, sin or tribulations. One day, we will be able to look
Jesus in the face and praise Him for what He has done for us. He has
given us new life! I hope that day comes soon.
In Him,
Bill Fritz
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list of other
Thoughts from the Well
