I want Oceans of it!

I sat in the movie theater in Bowie a few weeks ago with a number of good friends patiently awaiting the start of the ‘show’ for that evening. The lights dimmed, the screen darkened to black, the music began to play in that dramatic theatrical way and then it happened. My world was rocked. My world was challenged, by feelings were insulted, my senses were challenged and my mind was blown and my heart was issued the ultimate challenge.

You see, when we go to a movie theater we expect to be entertained, to have our conscience stroked, to have a place where the wounds of the day or week can be salved over with good feelings and the balm of laughter. We long for the escape that the movie theater often brings with its other worlds that delight and stimulate, its display of far off lands that offer intrigue and adventure. We salivate at the thought that one day, just one day, we might be able to trade places with the lead character, we might be the one that comes out on top, we might be the ones that get the girl, or the guy. We might be the ones who ride off into the setting sun with victory under our belt, love in our hearts and gold in our pockets. Just one day we might be the people on the big screen.

As I sat with my friends around me in that dimly lit shrine to the ‘possibility of what may be’ I was excited, I was eager to be an active part of what I was about to view. I was filled with anticipation of what was to come and the wonder of imagination as to how I might take the starring role in a similar production that would never reach the silver screen. I was ready.

Those feelings quickly changed. What happened in the next few moments stole all of those feelings away. The next few minutes of darkness, narration and written text did not fulfill my anticipation. The next few moments did not fill me with awe and wonder, they did not set my heart racing with the anticipation of what would follow or how I could see myself in the sequel.

The next few moments stripped my heart bare. The next few lines of prose reduced my anticipation to angst. The next few moments reduced me to a humbled position of reality. Reality of the world we live in and reality of how blessed I am with my version of this world we live in.

The narrator’s softly spoken voice conveyed a truth so un-mistakable that there was little else to do but allow the tear to form and slowly fall down my cheek. There was nothing else to do but listen to the words, to watch the images before. There was nothing else to do but to wonder what I could do.

As I listened my heart began to break, my world began to shake and my ideals were once again challenged with the reality of the world we live in. As I listened with my ears to the words of the narrator I was unable to close the ears of my heart to the deafening cry of my Savior. I couldn’t drown His voice out with soda or popcorn. I haven’t been able to drown His voice out for 2 weeks now. I pray I never will be able to.

My prayer is that these words of prose will grip me so deeply that I will never be the same again.

My prayer is that these words will disturb me so much that I can do nothing but answer His cry and change my life to reach out hands of justice. My prayer is that I will want what God wants – as deeply as He wants it.

“I can't stand your religious meetings.

I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions.
I want nothing to do with your religion projects,
your pretentious slogans and goals.

I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes,
your public relations and image making.

I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
When was the last time you sang to me?

Do you know what I want?

I want justice—oceans of it.
I want fairness—rivers of it.

That's what I want.
That’s all I want.”

Amos 5:21-23 (The Message)

http://www.theiheartfilm.com/