Oldies, but Goodies

My youngest son wanted to watch the movie, The Music Man (1962, 2 hours 31 minutes). We didn’t have the time last week because of our busy schedules, but we found plenty of time to watch it when Winter Storm Fern cancelled most of our regular plans. Our family has watched this movie several times because we love it! The boys have watched The Andy Griffith Show, so they are very familiar with child-actor-turned-director Ron Howard. When we watch other movies and shows together, we often point out the actors that they have seen before. My kids have seen at least one episode of Happy Days, so we pointed out that Richie Cunningham was teen-aged Opie Taylor/Winthrop Paroo. The kids in our house get a film history lesson just about every day!

                There may be value in some current and modern film productions, but I rely more on the tried-and-true films I already know. Watching the “oldies” with my kids gives me new joys than when I watched on my own or in childhood. My family can have real discussions on the topics and themes they are seeing, and we try to relate them to their own lives. Moral dilemmas never go out of style, no matter the time period. We will even bring up God in these discussions. It always gets interesting when we have just watched a science fiction movie. Having discussions as a family about what we just watched helps us grow closer as a family. I continue to learn how each of us thinks, what inspires us to take action (The Music Man usually inspires a few extra minutes of their own piano practice time), and what characters evoke our sympathy or displeasure. I want to Get to know my kids now while we still live under the same roof (snow-covered or not), so that when they are away from me, I still know them.

                God will never be out of style, or passé, in life. Some people may try to say that the Bible is just an old book, irrelevant today. I disagree, of course. The Bible chronicles the beginning of time (when God created it). Over thousands of years, people were still making the same mistakes. God continues to love us, although we continue to sin. Advances in science and technology has not changed that. We still lack trust in Him, we are still selfish. I include myself with all of the other people in this world. The Bible is not irrelevant, and God is not some old guy sitting on a cloud. God teaches me every day when I read the Bible or interact with someone else. I am challenged every day with every situation. Am I going to get up early to be with God before anything distracts me? Am I going to help out someone who asks, even if it inconveniences me? God doesn’t need me, but I need Him, always.

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. Psalm 86:5

¹¹ I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” ¹² And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: ¹³ I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Genesis 9:11-13

¹² “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,    “return to me with all your heart ,with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;¹³     and rend your hearts and not your garments. ”Return to the Lord your God,    for he is gracious and merciful ,slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;    and he relents over disaster.  Joel 2:12-14