www.conversantlife.com
A fact-based drama I watched last night set me thinking. Although not the usual type of film I would choose, the good acting from Al Pacino and Johny Depp held me enthralled and drew me into the plot. The astounding thing was: I loved the characters, despite their wrong doing. I could understand why they lived each day within the regime of the Mafia, and played by their rules.
Because of my comprehension, the bible's teaching rang in my mind. Love they neighbor as thyself. I loved the characters, despite what they did—and some of it was pretty gruesome.
Could the same thing be applied to everyone who lives around us—our neighbors. What about our enemies? Could we understand what drives them to act the way they do? Not just understand, but truly love them?
Each of us makes occasional mistakes, chooses the wrong path, lashes out in anger, or blurts hurtful words. And yet, we go on loving and forgiving ourselves, and vowing to change our ways. If we can do that, perhaps we could apply it to the people around us.
For instance: Mr. Bloggs upstairs leaves his clothes line in plain view for days on end instead of tidying it away. I could excuse him because, from his window, the bright yellow lines wouldn't clash with the green grass the way it does from my view below. Instead of bringing it to his attention, I chat to him each time he passes and sympathize with his problems. Okay, there are worse problems than this example. I'm sure you can supply your own. I live a sheltered life.
In Donnie Brasco, Al Pacino's character gave love in his own way to Johny Depp, his underling, secretly working for the CIA. At the end, the Mafia man forgave the betrayal from the youngster he'd taken under his wing. This love redeemed him as a character.
Life is just as complicated as the '97 film. Each person lives to a set of rules imposed by their own society, belief system, creed or gang. If we could understand what lies hidden inside the people we meet, our life would be so rewarding. Maybe we'd grow to love them despite the way they act.
Because of my comprehension, the bible's teaching rang in my mind. Love they neighbor as thyself. I loved the characters, despite what they did—and some of it was pretty gruesome.
Could the same thing be applied to everyone who lives around us—our neighbors. What about our enemies? Could we understand what drives them to act the way they do? Not just understand, but truly love them?
Each of us makes occasional mistakes, chooses the wrong path, lashes out in anger, or blurts hurtful words. And yet, we go on loving and forgiving ourselves, and vowing to change our ways. If we can do that, perhaps we could apply it to the people around us.
For instance: Mr. Bloggs upstairs leaves his clothes line in plain view for days on end instead of tidying it away. I could excuse him because, from his window, the bright yellow lines wouldn't clash with the green grass the way it does from my view below. Instead of bringing it to his attention, I chat to him each time he passes and sympathize with his problems. Okay, there are worse problems than this example. I'm sure you can supply your own. I live a sheltered life.
In Donnie Brasco, Al Pacino's character gave love in his own way to Johny Depp, his underling, secretly working for the CIA. At the end, the Mafia man forgave the betrayal from the youngster he'd taken under his wing. This love redeemed him as a character.
Life is just as complicated as the '97 film. Each person lives to a set of rules imposed by their own society, belief system, creed or gang. If we could understand what lies hidden inside the people we meet, our life would be so rewarding. Maybe we'd grow to love them despite the way they act.
RSS Feed
