No Modern Day Cinderella Stories
Two days ago, I did something I hardly ever do. I sat in my living room and watched "Cinderella Man". This is the only way I get to watch movies these days. I have to wait until my children are asleep, and then I stay up way past my bedtime to see the flick. Most of the time, I am disappointed by the movie. However, this one passed all expectations. I gave it an A. It was a wonderful film.
This true story begins with a boxer on the rise. It is pre-depression in America, money is good, and times are right. Then the depression hits, and our boxer falls on hard times. All of his money was wrapped up in the market, and he finds himself living in a basement apartment out of work. Even worse, he has a broken right hand. This knocks him out of the fight game. Thus, he has absolutely no way of making an income to provide for his family.
Then the miracle happens. His hand heals and his manager gets him a fight. It was to be a one shot deal. The man he was fighting was a contender for the title, and our boxer was all washed up. Yet, our boxer knocks the contender out. This provides him with an opportunity to fight more. He ends up becoming the champion, and providing nicely for his family.
My favorite scene in the film was between the boxer and his son. His son stole food from the local butcher. The boy was afraid that his parents would send him away if they couldn't afford to feed him. When our boxer found out, he drug the boy back to the butcher and made him give the food back. Out on the street, the father looked at his son and said, "We don't steal. No matter what, We don't steal." The boy cried and they hugged. This was the end of the scene.
As I watched that scene, I came to the realization that our nation could not survive the great depression if it happened today. We do not have the national character to do it. We have become a nation that expects to be taken care of. We have lost our convictions and we have lost our faith. Our boxer was a real dad. He taught his son that ethics do not change with the situation. However, in our post-modern world, those ethics do not fly.
If our nation suffered another great depression there would be rioting in the streets. Every store would be robbed. Every house would be looted. People would teach their children how to steal. The national ethic of "looking out for number one" would create anarchy. Our society would certainly fall.
"We don't steal. No matter what, we don't steal." This way of thinking is dead and gone to most Americans. This is why I am not a post-millennialism. I guess I am to pessimistic and realistic about the world we live in. Sin's corruption is deep and strong. Let us rejoice, for we now, more than ever, are the salt and light of the world.
This true story begins with a boxer on the rise. It is pre-depression in America, money is good, and times are right. Then the depression hits, and our boxer falls on hard times. All of his money was wrapped up in the market, and he finds himself living in a basement apartment out of work. Even worse, he has a broken right hand. This knocks him out of the fight game. Thus, he has absolutely no way of making an income to provide for his family.
Then the miracle happens. His hand heals and his manager gets him a fight. It was to be a one shot deal. The man he was fighting was a contender for the title, and our boxer was all washed up. Yet, our boxer knocks the contender out. This provides him with an opportunity to fight more. He ends up becoming the champion, and providing nicely for his family.
My favorite scene in the film was between the boxer and his son. His son stole food from the local butcher. The boy was afraid that his parents would send him away if they couldn't afford to feed him. When our boxer found out, he drug the boy back to the butcher and made him give the food back. Out on the street, the father looked at his son and said, "We don't steal. No matter what, We don't steal." The boy cried and they hugged. This was the end of the scene.
As I watched that scene, I came to the realization that our nation could not survive the great depression if it happened today. We do not have the national character to do it. We have become a nation that expects to be taken care of. We have lost our convictions and we have lost our faith. Our boxer was a real dad. He taught his son that ethics do not change with the situation. However, in our post-modern world, those ethics do not fly.
If our nation suffered another great depression there would be rioting in the streets. Every store would be robbed. Every house would be looted. People would teach their children how to steal. The national ethic of "looking out for number one" would create anarchy. Our society would certainly fall.
"We don't steal. No matter what, we don't steal." This way of thinking is dead and gone to most Americans. This is why I am not a post-millennialism. I guess I am to pessimistic and realistic about the world we live in. Sin's corruption is deep and strong. Let us rejoice, for we now, more than ever, are the salt and light of the world.
posted by Foundes Community Church @ 11:57 PM
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