Last night we spent some family time watching the incredible movie AUGUST RUSH! Phil and Jared had never seen it before and I thought that they might enjoy it. Jared wasn't prepared for how riveted he would be to it. He thought it was going to be boring and by the end of the movie he went from laying down to sitting on the edge of his seat.
I love stories like that!! Stories that pull you into them and move you to your core!!
There are stories like that all through God's Word if we will allow our imaginations take over and show us in vivid color the visual side of the story. Sometimes it can be as simple as having a true understanding of the cultural context of the story we are reading. I think sometimes it is easy to just read and not take in the full scope of the story and what that would look or feel like.
Maybe our lack of energy or excitement, when it comes to biblical literature, is because we think that we've heard the stories told so many times that we stop looking for new things. I know that there are some movies that seem to never grow old. You can watch them over and over and if they are made really well, it seems as if you can find fresh new insights.
I am asking God to help me find a new excitement in looking at the stories ... the Truths ... of the Word. I want to get on the edge of my seat in order to take in the whole scope of what I am experiencing. I want my eyes and heart opened in fresh new ways to then help make those stories come alive for other people. What if we could passionately share those truths with others ... in the same manner that you would explain some incredible cinematic experience.
Imagine your favorite movie with out the music score behind it. Would it evoke the same response from you? What is it about reading the Word that would equate to the music score?
Or .... what about trying to watch a movie and someone is trying to talk to you the whole time so you miss key points. What distractions do we have when trying to read the Word that keeps us from missing key points so it doesn't quite click for us?
These are just some thoughts that I've had. Didn't really intend to give any "answers" to the questions. I think for each person the answers could be different. What would your answers be?
