My wife and I went to see the film “Jumping the Broom” last evening. I have to say that I really enjoyed myself… like no other movie in a while. The reason is that it was a beautiful portrayal of redemption. It was a tale that shows how messy all of our lives can get in the actual living of a lifetime; i.e., our actions and choices. It demonstrated that whether one was rich or not so rich, educated or not so educated, sophisticated or not so sophisticated that in the end the only thing that matters for anything is familial love. Not the love that one has for family per se, but rather, the love one has for the family of man… humanity. There is a common thread that unites us all just below the surface of what we pretend is important. It is to be loved, appreciated, accepted and needed.
I tip my favorite Giants cap to T. D. Jakes for his involvement in this production. I love the fact that the thirteenth chapter of first Corinthians was subtly referenced but not blatantly used. This movie portrayed many if not all of life’s snags and wrong turns and demonstrated that with love and understanding, coupled with honesty and acceptance redemption is possible. For me it was truly a spiritual experience… perhaps I should say religious experience using religion’s most positive connotation.
Without giving away the plot… I would advise that you see it for yourself… you are confronted with all of the human deception deep distrust that can so easily be a part of a world clouded by an imperfect understanding of the knowledge of good and evil. When one is then forced to face the ultimate unsavory truth, there is born the opportunity for redemption. Many of the characters of the film, on various levels, were confronted with the lies that they used to protect their image and view of the world. With these all shattered, they were forced to trust in God to help overcome the obstacles they had created. In each one, when facing a truth that is difficult, they were able to through love and forgiveness, move to a place of greater stability in their interconnectedness.
First Corinthians Chapter 13:
Oh by the way.... you will laugh and cry and enjoy a cathartic experience.Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.(1Co NKJV 13:1-13)
I forgot about this movie. I will now have to see it. But you are so right; all of us want to be loved, appreciated, accepted and needed, even animals want and need that. That common thread that runs through all of us is found in chapter 13 of first Corinthians. Love.
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