Selma — Movie Review

This movie is from 2005, but I just watched it recently.  It’s not really a Christian movie, but it is a movie about a Christian — Martin Luther King Jr..  It centers around the events in 1965 which led up to the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, a milestone in the Civil Rights Movement.

I found it well acted, and from my research, historically accurate.  It was interesting for me, as someone who lived through those times, to realize how little I understood about the unfair treatment African Americans were enduring.  I remember segregated schools, and our local movie theatre had a “colored balcony.”  These things were taken for granted.  Because I didn’t personally see police brutality, blatant disrespect or people being denied the vote, I didn’t think about it.  It makes me wonder, what sins are we simply not seeing today, that in 40 years will seem glaringly obvious?

The historic characters (Martin Luther King Jr, Lyndon Johnson and others) are portrayed realistically and presented as neither saints nor demons.  The film points up conflicts not only between King and Johnson, but within the Civil Rights Movement itself, and even between Martin and his wife, Coretta.  It is PG-13 because it depicts violence (which actually took place) and some profane language.

I enjoyed Selma and would recommend it, especially if you want an realistic view of what was happening in 1965.  You might watch and discuss it with your teenagers or young adults.

For more on Martin Luther King Jr. see these posts:

How Martin Luther King Got His Name

Forgiveness is a Process

 

How Martin Luther King Got His Name

Did you ever wonder how Rev. Martin Luther King, a Baptist pastor, came to be named after the great reformer, Martin Luther?  Here’s the story.  Martin Luther King was originally named Michael King Jr. after his father.  When he was five years old, his father joined a group of Baptist ministers on a European tour.  The trip ended in a weeklong Baptist World Alliance conference in Berlin, and during the conference the senior Pastor King visited some of the historic German sites where Martin Luther lived and worked.  He became so inspired by this religious hero, that when he came home he changed his name and also his son’s name to honor him.

Here’s a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. about light, our theme for the month:

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.

For another quote by Martin Luther King Jr. go to this post:

Forgiveness is a Process

 

 

 

Stewardship of Our Life

I blogged recently about being a Pastor’s wife.  The truth is I, and all of you, have many roles.  We are mothers and wives, employees and daughters, friends and neighbors, church members and siblings.  In each of these roles we have a responsibility to be God’s hands and feet in the world.  On a Via de Cristo weekend, we call the team members who are serving  others chas, which stands for Christ’s hands in Action.  When you think of your whole life that way, it puts a different perspective on the smallest and most mundane actions.

Martin Luther, changed the whole understanding of vocation.  In his time, those who had a “vocation” were the priests, nuns and monks.  These people were the ones who were giving their lives to God.  Luther said everyone could do this;  those in religious orders were no different or better than the ordinary person who was striving to dedicate their daily life to God.  Milking cows was as holy and important a role as leading the Mass.

This doesn’t mean we can go about our lives without any thought of God;  instead it means that we should be thinking of God and trying to do His will ALL THE TIME.  Imagine how the world would change if every one of us did this?  It would put an end to a lot of cursing, gossip, insults and other kinds of careless talk.  It would lead to productive employees, concerned parents, helpful neighbors and caring friends.  I suspect that the harder I try to do this, the more contented and peaceful I’ll become.

The work I have in this world is the work God has given me.  The roles I fulfill are the ones He chose for me.  Each of them will teach me something and bring me closer to Him if I just remember who I am:  a steward of the King.

Forgiveness is a Process

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive.  He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love.  There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us.  When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.

Martin Luther King Jr.