Woodlawn

I was looking for a movie to attend this past weekend, and I saw the icon for Woodlawn http://woodlawnmovie.com/, a football player standing in the end of a tunnel leading to a football field.  I like sports movies, so I did some checking.  It turned out that Woodlawn was less a sports movie, and more a Christian movie. So, as I was poking around looking at trailers for the movie, I stumbled upon the Liberty University Convocation http://www.liberty.edu/news/index.cfm?PID=18495&MID=168708 with Sean Astin and other members of the cast and  crew of Woodlawn. And, uncharacteristically for me, I watched it.  And liked what I saw.

I like sports movies. I appreciate movies about the civil rights movement and the efforts to bring segregation and equal rights to the minority groups in the United States (which we have not done very well, by the way.)  So this movie hit home for me on two levels.  I tend to shy away from "Christian" events, because they sometimes have a feel of fanaticism, and fanaticism scares me.  But as I listened to the Convocation, and to Sean Astin, I realized that I was very much like him.  I tend to be judgmental of "evangelism" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelism. And, sometimes, evangelism is not inappropriate. 

I tend to think that people who spout the word of God and give endless testimony to Him are just wordsmiths, and except for working in their church, are not very Christian in their approach to every day life.  They may not walk their talk outside of their church, in other words.  But, then I think, do I?

I am unchurched.  I try to conduct myself in a Christian way when dealing with people in my life, whether it is friends, co-workers, colleagues, or acquaintances.  I am not always successful. I am imperfect and always need help to be better. At work, I often find myself facing an enigma posed by a patient, and a deep breath, and a moment to reflect often gives me an inspiration that I believe comes from God.  I am not that wise or well educated.

I am an introvert, and sometimes in public situations, I wilt rather than do the right thing. Or call up my indignation and rant and rave instead of being calm and collected.  (I am getting better at that.) 

Woodlawn was about all of that. About learning to face our challenges. Learning to face our fears. Learning to face the difficulties we have in our lives.  And learning that we can be good Christians while engaging in secular lives.  On so may levels.

I would very much encourage you to go to see this movie.