“I don’t like sad movies. I prefer movies that are… funny,” said a friend of Silas who joined us for dinner the other night. He is a typical French ten year old, he has seen sad movies. Think of the cultural differences here! This young French kid has seen sad movies, and has decided he doesn’t really like sad movies. He’s ten. What kind of movies did you see in grade school? I don’t remember seeing sad shows. What about Silas and Efrem…they watch mostly animated movies, they are silly and definitely have happy endings. Life is sad enough, maybe we try to protect our kids from it as long as possible. We hope and pray for a happy ending, in our lives, in our children’s lives, and beyond.
I have heard French people make fun of the “happy end” of American films. I have to admit, I’m solidly American there. I love a happy ending. In life, we feel the tension between how tough and sad things can be and the hope we have for something better. Where does this idea of something better come from? Why do we hold onto it so firmly? Reading in Hebrews 11 this morning I was struck with verse 16, “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” I wonder - how good is my vision of what God has prepared for us? That realization of something yet unrealized is what carried those heroes of faith through incredible trials. What am I hoping for?..
What are you hoping for?