Tuesday, May 19, 2009

God at the Movies Part 3 - Slumdog Millionaire



Slumdog Millionaire is the story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. How? By answering the million dollar question on India’s version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”

Slumdog won the Academy Award for Best Picture last year. Great movie, but so gritty. It shows life in a slum and it is sad and realistic. But part of the charm of the movie is how one boy grew up in a slum and worked to get out of it. Rags to riches – literally.

I loved this movie but it would be hard to watch again. In order to get to the high of joy and victory, the movie explicitly shows pain and loss. But definitely watch it, but not with kids.

I see a tremendous metaphor in this movie.

God prepares us to do His will with the life experiences He gives us.

Jamal is not a genius. He didn’t even have much of an education. But he is able to answer so many questions in the game show because of specific life experiences. He happens to know who is on the American one hundred dollar bill because one single instance. One moment when he saw one.

In the same way, God prepares me and you for specific tasks, for specific ministry opportunities by giving you life experiences. God is more interested in our willingness than our skill set. So many times the words, “I can’t God” come out of our mouths when what God wants to hear is “I am willing God.” If we’re willing then God enables us. In fact He is already getting you and I ready for future opportunities by putting us in situations or circumstances.

In effect, the million dollar question can be a chance to serve a neighbor or take a risk.

God prepares us for those moments. We just have to be willing and ready.

2 comments:

Jan Parrish said...

That type of abuse hurts me too much to see. I've been warned against seeing it. I feel too much of their pain. I hear the ending is fabulous and lots of other great things about it. Thanks for blogging about it.

Cheryl Barker said...

Robbie, I thought this was a great movie, too. Yes, there are hard realities in it, but story of enduring love and commitment told throughout is amazing and beautiful. I definitely think the movie is worth seeing.