Last December, my family and I gathered for a film to watch together. Clustered in the basement with the impending forecast of a White Christmas on our hands, we watched the movie “Forrest Gump” together. To me, this was significant. While I have enjoyed watching TV / movies in the past, they have become much more of a rarity while in college. I would often go months without sitting down to watch television or see a movie at home. After getting involved with campus ministry, going out to explore the great outdoors, and diving into academics, things just happened this way. Yet on that cold night, we relaxed and the film begins.
Forrest Gump opens up with him and a girl named Jenny (who offered Forrest a place to sit on the school bus as a child) going to school together. They live in the fictional town of Greenbow, Alabama. Yet after bullies chase Forrest, Jenny cries out: “Run, Forrest, Run!” as Forrest zips through the woods- no longer hindered by leg braces. This and other events, causes them to have a close friendship. Yet, they go their separate ways. Forrest becomes a talented football player because of his running ability. He later fights in the Vietnam war, meets the President, starts a shrimp company, and runs across America multiple times. He is what would be viewed as the “protagonist” who helped those around him and took time out of his life to care for an army lieutenant who was wounded during the war- and help navigate him out of depression. Jenny took a different path. She faced many challenges growing up; and throughout her adult life, she battled addiction and drug abuse. As Forrest continued in his life adventures, Jenny continued to reckon with her inner struggles.
Yet after that night, the film (which showcases a terrific love story) reminded me of the sacrificial love that Jesus has for us. Jesus is there for us- just as Forrest was always there for Jenny (including in his statement to Jenny, which is the title of this blog). During the film, Jenny rejected Forrest’s requests for friendship and marriage as she continued to run towards other things, other relationships, and away from her hurt. Forrest challenged her to make peace with her past and to realize that she is capable of being loved and expressing love. Even during the years that they were apart, Forest had a deep, true love for Jenny- and he took every chance he got to build up the relationship. Ultimately, the two of them got married. While it was a short-lived marriage, he continued to love her up until her deathbed (from an AIDS infection). And I see this as a beautiful illustration for how Jesus loves the church (His people). No matter how many times we mess up or fall short, Jesus still loves us (and His people / the holy city is His bride that He will marry at the end of the age – Revelation 21). Does He challenge us to repent of our sins and seek after Him? Absolutely! Yet He ultimately yearns to see our lives changed- set free from the bondage of sin/ brokenness and restored in a relationship with Him.
Around 10 years ago, I was in middle school at a classical Christian school in Boone, NC known as Grace Academy. One of the assignments that I had while in school there was to memorize 1 Corinthians 13. Over the years, I had gradually forgotten the passage in my mind; yet I looked back on that time as a time of learning what Scripture memorization was like. As Forrest Gump ended, I was shaken by the depiction of love throughout the movie. Throughout the next couple of weeks, I decided to open the Bible to 1 Corinthians 13 and memorize it again. It was a terrific experience- and Scripture caused me to grapple with what love truly is. What is love? What characterizes true love? How does love relate to others? Reading the passage time and time again continued to have important truths sink in.
While in college, the opportunities came to explore God’s creation and adventure in the great outdoors. Going caving, waterfalling, travelling, and launching rockets were some of the many things that took place. I cherished the early days of getting out of bed and driving to meet friends in Asheville to spend a day underground or out on the hiking trail. Yet in many of these experiences, I thought about what it would be like to share life with someone who I loved- romantically. I prayed and thought about it throughout my college career; yet also realizing that that time was not to come to pass yet. As the winter came upon us, I drove on more back roads in the mountains while diving into 1 Corinthians 13. And as I continued to examine this piece of Scripture, I realized that it contradicts much of what society thinks of as “love”. Love is patient. Love never fails. Love keeps no record of wrongs. It is not self-seeking. It rejoices in the truth (no matter how hard the truth is). As these verses continued to leap off the page, I asked myself: “Was I missing what true love really is?”
This was a stunning realization. It is so easy for us to live our lives with a preconceived notion of love- whether from the world or from faith life in general. It is easy to define things as “love” (when they are not) or to ignore genuine love that is taking place. It is also easy to measure ourselves to the world and what it views as “love” and “relationships”. Yet hold the sword of God’s Word to our notions of love- and those definitions are shattered. The glass pane that I imagined love to be was broken into a thousand pieces. Slicing a sharp sword (Hebrews 4:12, Ephesians 6:17) will do that. Yet, it is a beautiful sight. While those pieces will never be put back together again, God is building a new foundation- a new definition- in its place. And- love is amazing. Christ-like love and pursuit for Him and for others (and bringing them into God’s Kingdom) is what drives us to give to the poor, speak in tongues, fathom knowledge, and engage in God’s ministry that He calls us to do. And it is this kind of love (see the attributes of love, vs. 4 – 8 below) that stands in sharp contrast to worldly love.
This is genuine love! And as we celebrate Valentine’s Day today, I look forward to continuing to grow in the Lord and to study what true love is like. Looking back on this- I have felt a significant amount of peace. Yes- God is calling me to wait on His timing- both in relationships and in missional calling (which if it be God’s will- we will launch overseas this August). But in the waiting, a lot of important takeaways are revealed. It is a time to press in- and a time to continue to grapple with the truths of Scripture. And yes- this will bring about a lot of things to lift up in prayer as well. The pressing in and refinement not always easy. Yet the epiphany and realizations are so worth it. Thank you all for your prayers as this trip gets closer, and I look forward to continuing to study Scripture and genuinely loving others in the coming months!
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13 (NIV)
High Falls- Spring Break 2019 (Wilderness First Responder course) trip- Cashiers, NC.
