“People need the Lord”

        I watched a film the other day—a Toronto Film Festival “choice”. Under compulsion, I endured the gloom and loneliness, and the abyss of despair, right to the end. Horrible as the story was, I believe it was true to life in many ways.

        The protagonist is an English literature supply teacher at an inner city high school. He tries to make a difference with a bit of friendship and a listening ear. He tries to give his students some understanding of life through literature, but he specifically picks Poe’s grotesque The Fall of the House of Usher. Poe is also the man who wrote The Raven and The Cask of Amontillado (a story that has haunted me since the day I first read it.)

        If the emptiness is true of humanity at large, then these writers, producers, directors, and actors are accurate; if they are wrong about mankind in general, then they are at least right about an emptiness within themselves; and, ultimately, the film is prophetic of the direction mankind is taking.

        Why would I mention such a subject in a Christian newsletter? There can be only one reason—I came away from the film thinking, “These people need the Lord and they know nothing about Him—He isn’t even mentioned!” But Jesus is their ONLY hope! Scripture says it best: “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.” Psalm 62:1.