Shawshank Redemption – 4 February 2009

This is one of my all time favourite movies - if you can watch it too many times, I have! Two imprisoned men bond over a number of years in this story (adapted from a Stephen King novel) of hope, perseverance, strength and redemption.  For me it carries some valuable spiritual messages:

Persistence is Key:

When Andy (Tim Robbins) takes over as the prison librarian, he wants to expand the library. He asks the wardens’ permission to write to the state requesting funds. The warden says they won't provide money, but allows him to write anyway. Andy writes one letter a week for many years, finally they send him some money and books. Not satisfied, and feeling it wasn’t enough, he then writes 2 letters a week and eventually receives a $500 annual donation (a lot in the 1950’s) for the prison library system – and a request to stop writing letters!  He was rejected well over 100 times, yet his persistence paid off.

Remind you of anyone? The story of the persistent widow is awesome! and could be one of the most humorous verses in the Bible – Luke 18 v 4-5 "The judge ignored her for a while, but eventually she wore him out. `I fear neither God nor man,' he said to himself, `but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'"  Great stuff! Jesus teaches that persistence pays off.

Hope Never Dies - Fear can hold you prisoner, hope can set you free!

Red (Morgan Freeman) is feeling hopeless thinking he may never get out of prison and, if he ever does, he won't know how to live outside of the prison walls that have been his home for many decades. Andy responds... "There are places in this world that aren't made out of stone... there's something inside... that they can't get to, that they can't touch, that's yours……. Hope." He writes to Red, "Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."

Whatever your fears may be, God gives this promise: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance and endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation and this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”  Romans 5: 3-5 (New Living Translation)

Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying

Andy was serving life for a murder he didn’t commit, but he was not angry, resentful or pitiful - he had an inner strength and peace, as he put it, “I guess it comes down to a simple choice, get busy living or get busy dying."  As I put it “Two men looked through the prison bars, one saw the mud and one saw the stars”. As God puts it “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 ……Choose Life!

Lord, avert our eyes from the mud and help us to see stars today!, Amen.