A Friday Night decompression… well a whole week decompression.

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It was quite the week and then again it was OK – it was a variety of emotions and actions, it was construction and decompression and everything in between – but it was mostly blessed – in direction and in thoughtfulness – and the down parts, well I don’t have to dwell in them – I just keep moving – like we all should. It was blessed more than it was stressed. And the theme that kept me going was “Fear Not” from Joshua scripture – and the thought-gifting and thought-pulling movie that I watch in bits and pieces all week was so worth the pensiveness – “Forrest Gump” – really an excellent multitude of moments to distract and to digest – and this rewatch after years, well it is full of fun funnies and full of thoughtful tragedies and full of God – this moving movie is full of ” ’cause right then, God showed up”…  and it is included on Disney Plus right now…  a good way to start and stop movies and fast forward and rewind..  

This week I wanted and needed the unwind more that then rewind…

“God showed up” is a line that Forrest (Tom Hanks in amazing character) uses in his narrative of his life when describing the emotional rollercoaster of Lieutenant Dan’s life and situation, who was crippled losing both legs during Vietnam and then found himself confronting God, again and again – in snarky-ness and anger – in disbelief and sorrow – well, Lt. Dan finally makes his peace with God – as Forrest realizes without any conversation – and they go from empty nets on the shrimping boat to the fullest of lives. This life – this unbelievable story (it IS a movie after all) – is carried with fascinating narration all throughout (really you have to see this movie if you haven’t)… (and the references of the 60s and 70s and 80s are so precious to me in my generational understanding… MCMXCIV is 1994 – that is thirty years ago? Wow, feels like less and feels like more…)

“God showed up” is what Forrest uses to describe the scene when a Hurricane comes in to Alabama and destroys all the shrimping boats except for theirs, because they were not docked but out INSIDE the punishing storm… “God showed up” – and they held on for dear life – well Forrest did – but Lieutenant Dan up in the crows nest challenged the situation, challenged the storm and the universe and his fate and challenged over coming to grips with awaiting his destiny which he was sure was supposed to end in Vietnam being killed and had to live out his life in a wheelchair… “God showed up” and now living IS the challenge by God again to see how HE got him (them) (us) thru… 

“God showed up” – Forrest believed that Lt Dan made his peace with God, and that is where we should take note too. How do we make peace with God and all the storms and everything that is thrown at us… How do we know ‘God never was absent’ in our lives. How do we accept challenges to build our dependence upon Him. Oh how I love the scene with Lt Dan walking on titanium steel legs, from the space shuttle materials he states. Lt Dan walked again (earthly) and so will we in Heaven no matter what our lives infirmities will throw at us.

“God showed up” – and the movie story continued – with more characters and with the same return to Forrest’s first love – Jenny. And all future direction for Forrest.

I won’t spoil the rest of the movie but you probably already saw it. It is worth a rewatch and rewatch – yes fun product placements and jokes you have to be of a certain age to understand – like that bumper sticker and the tshirt design interactions – and everything…  

And the scenes singing of Gospel music – and of Jesus are precious – “I’ve Got a New Home” – we going to sing of the Victory – “Jesus on the Mainline”!!! Glory Hallelujah singers –  and then the whole soundtrack of 30 plus songs is DIVINE listening of secular music of the time – well, I am off track now but I decided to buy a CD used for $4…

But really – as a decompression or as a mental break that makes you think too – I highly highly recommend the movie Forrest Gump… I recommend remembering and restarting and reverence of real life.

Sometimes we have to have those moments of pause and at the same time accept that life is “like a box of chocolates” – “you never know what you’re going to get” – but TRUST ME – you can be certain – GOD SHOWS UP IN EACH BITE…

Amen…