"American Beauty"

I just finished watching a movie called "American Beauty." It demonstrated that life can be empty without loving each other. It was a good negative example of how families don't know how to treat each other. It threw in a lot of dynamics about how people see the world and those around them. It displayed some of the difficulties in life and how different people handle social pressures. It threw in a mixture of personalities and perspectives. It threw in the dynamics of marriage, parenting, narcissism, low self-esteem, materialism, self-dependency, apathy, indifference, abuse, purpose, family, love, anger, fantasy, drugs, homosexuality, appearances, meeting people's expectations, pain, communication, conflict, and beauty. The thing that they all had in common was that they all needed to be loved. And because they couldn't receive love from others, they turned to other outlets of escape. They were all looking for their identity and something out of life. They all knew there was something more to live for, but they couldn't quite put their finger on it. Some characters would capture a glimpse of beauty and would just wonder what is the whole meaning to this thing we call life.

What was truly missing was a Christian perspective. They needed the love of God to show that there is more to life than chasing the American dream. The fruits of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control can only come from the God. Romans 1 explains that God's creation testifies about Him, and that people can notice that there is something behind all this beauty in life. That there is a Divine Creator to this life we experience. That there is a God who compassionately cares for each one of us; That there is an abundant and full life through Christ and the fellowship of believers. That there is a love that goes beyond any of our descriptions. Are we living robotic, ordinary, boring, and routine lives? Or is there purpose in our life. Who or what do we serve and worship?

Have you ever taken a walk and seen the intense beauty of the sun, sky, wind and trees? God's creation is mind blowing, uncontainable, and can leave you breathless. After absorbing all of that, stop to ponder the unlimited, all powerful, relentless love of God. God uses natural revelation to draw us to special revelation, so that we can know that there is a God who loves us enough to die for us. To claim us, to be His, to save us from sin and death, and give us an eternal life with Him. It is impossible to encounter the full beauty and love of God and not be grateful, joyful, and to be full of awe. If you truly receive and trust Him as Lord over your life, you will be changed, you will love others, you will find your identity, purpose and meaning in life.

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." -1 John 3:16-17