Evan Almighty

-
I had a wonderful evening last night - dinner, movie and coffee with a couple of friends. One is leaving for 4 weeks on a short-term mission trip to Denmark so we had a little goodbye for her before she leaves.

I enjoy Steve Carell - obviously since I put Little Miss Sunshine on my best of '06 list and The Office is just about the funniest show to me ever. You add Lauren Graham and I'm intrigued - Morgan Freeman and I'm happy.

While the movie isn't all that funny, (I expected many more laugh-out-loud moments than I got. There was maybe 6 or 7.) a moment in the movie will stay with me for a very long time. It's not a spoiler, but it is a nice defining moment - so read no further if you're dying to go and don't want to be spoiled in any way shape for form.

God asks Evan's wife: "Do you think that God gives us patience when we pray for it, or does he give us opportunities to be patient? And when we ask for courage, does he give us courage or give us opportunities to be courageous?"

There is more to the mini-speech he gives, but that's all I will share. The point is made in the most simplified, beautiful way that I'd never expect from Hollywood. What a lovely way to remind us all that it's not about what God gives us, but about what we do with what we already given. It's not the ultimate point the movie makes (which is a fairly good one, yet nothing we haven't heard from Hollywood before) yet that moment between Morgan Freeman and Lauren Graham made the $7.25 I spent worth it.

Comments

kc bob said…
A friend said that she enjoyed this one - maybe I'll get to it before video?
2:49 PM
stephanie said…
I decided today that I would characterize this movie as a "Disney" type of movie. Which is not what you'd normally expect from Steve Carell, which is why I felt the funny just wasn't there. But it makes a nice family film because the lessons are very good.
5:51 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Dichotomy of Country Music

-
Image
I spent Sunday afternoon in our family farm's shop, refinishing a dresser I found at a local antique store. I'm a farmer's daughter, yes, and certainly what some would call a "country girl". But most who know me are surprised when they find this out about me. Maybe it's because my vocabulary doesn't include double negatives, or maybe it's because I don't like country music. Who knows. I need to have music on when I refinish anything. It keeps me in the groove and passes the time a little faster. I realized I'd forgotten the ear buds to my ipod, so I was stuck with the shop radio, where I was only able to get one station to come in. Of course, it was a country music station. (After all, I do live in Nebraska, where throwing a rocks ensures you to hit a country music fan.) I can put up with said music for a time, so I left the dial where it was and kept it low in the background. Then my ears perked a little when this came on: I am weak and he is...
Read more

A Dilemma for Good Friday

-
In my effort to build a Good Friday service with the theme of "by his stripes we are healed", I have hit a dilemma. Here is my order of service: Video “Resurrection” Reading of Isaiah 53 Crimson (Vocal Solo) Reading: John 18: 1-18 #302 Lamb of God 1, 2 Reading John 18: 19-40 #323 Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed 1, 2, 3, 5 Reading: John 19: 1-16 Love Song (Vocal Solo) Reading John 19: 17-42 #324 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross 1, 3, 4 Video “A Better Way” Cross Painting/Communion Prayer All of the readings have music in the background, mostly stuff from "The Passion" to create a mood of sorrow and awe at the same time. Both vocal solos are focused on Jesus very intentionally, as are the videos. For communion, my idea is to have a small bucket of paint sitting at the foot of the cross. As we all come forward for communion, we will have the chance to paint a stripe on the cross, to remind us of the price Jesus paid, the "stripes" if you will. During that ti...
Read more

Promise

-
Image
Wednesday night on my way to church for my last praise team rehearsal, I accidentally took my usual route, forgetting that two weeks ago my usual exit was closed for construction. So instead of taking an alternate route I ended up having to drive about 4-5 miles out of my way. And as I turned the corner and drove down this strange road I realized why. I was overcome with emotion. ( That tends to happen when I'm driving. ) I had to pull over, pause, take a picture and let my heart be filled. I don't think I've ever been so scared and so worried about anything in my life as I am about moving to St. Louis, starting a new job and beginning my seminary education. I'm not having second thoughts; I'm not even worried that I might have made the wrong decision. I'm worried about how I will adjust, and how I will make a new and completely different life for myself. I will be desperate for my home, my friends, my family and the comfort my current life provides. I am worrie...
Read more