The first time I was ever moved to tears while watching a movie was in 2002 and the title of that movie was John Q.
Released in November 2001, John Q was a thought-provoking drama/thriller about a family whose son, Micheal, needs an emergency heart transplant to save his life, but the father, John Q Archibald, cannot afford to pay for the operation and his insurance does not cover for such. As the clock ticks away his hope and accelerates his desperation, John Q takes a hospital emergency room hostage and demands that they perform the life-saving operation on his son.
The movie was starred by the academy award-winner, Denzel Washington, alongside other interesting actors like Robert Duval, James Woods, Anne Heche, Eddie Griffin, Kimberly Elise, Daniel E Smith, Shawn Hatosy and others.
The writer, James Kearns, and the director of the movie, Nick Cassavetes, mentioned how SWAT team advisors for the film narrated a similar true incident in Toronto where a man, Henry Masuka, took an ER hostage after it would not provide immediate service to his son on New Year’s Eve 1999. According to the story, when Henry Masuka exited the ER he was shot and killed and found to be carrying an unloaded pellet gun.
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Now, when I watched that movie, I was not married yet, let alone talk about having a child. It is easier to relate with such story if you are a parent – you can understand why a father would risk his own life that way in order to save the life of his child. In other words, that a father was willing to exchange his life for that of his son.
How much more powerful can it get? The three subsequent times I watched that movie in the same year, I cried even harder. To me, that’s the ultimate story of love, that a man so loved his son that he was willing to give his own life.
There are many similar stories in life and of real life events. One very close to my breath is the civil rights movement led by the legendary Dr. Martin Luther King, jr. While leading the movement, Dr. King jr knew that his life was constantly in danger. But for the love of freedom for African Americans, he didn’t lose heart. He continued the struggle and won some victories, but eventually paid the ultimate price on April 4th, 1968, in Memphis, Tennesee.
Late Dr. King demonstrated love for his people, and even those who hated him. His life’s message was nonviolent even in the face of temptations and, or provocations to resort to violence. Late Dr. King walked the path that Jesus would have him do. The world would never forget him.
Today the world is going through a lot of crises, from insecurity, hunger, political upheaval and many other issues all because the human race is plagued by fear, selfishness and greed. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. We can change the narratives and be on the good side of stories that shall be told tomorrow.
In spite of our human frailty, God has deposited his character in us. And like Dr. Martin Luther King jr, it is possible for us to raise above our natural tendency for greed, fear and selfishness to demonstrate love for our neighbor, thereby making the world better than it is today.
The world needs love more than ever before. The world needs men that can act like the real children of God, who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.
As Christians celebrate Easter all over the world, I write to remind us that we all are passing through this fleeting space like the ones who have gone before us. Sooner or later, our contributions to this world shall be told and, or written as stories.
What would be said about you?
Would your story be that of love, courage, strength and sacrifice, or would it be that of fear, greed and selfishness?
Remember, Easter is not just a global holiday or a party celebration. It is a period to remind us of the sacrifice that the greatest Man who ever walked on the surface of this earth, our Lord Jesus Christ, made for the love He has for mankind – His death and resurrection.
May this sacrifice find expression in our own lives today.
