Watched an excellent movie called My Boy Jack . Based on the true events of Jack Kipling enlisting and. death in WW1 . Based on the poem of his famous father Rudyard Kipling , author of books such a The Jungle Book and Gunga Din. It was brought to life by British actor David Haig , who wrote a play based on the poem . It was a one man production but in 2008 was adapted to film by Haig.
It is wonderfully done and a very moving piece of the tragedy and cost of war . If you get a chance to watch the movie do so .
What I found fascinating was the feature after the show . The actors that were involved spoke of making the film and gave commentary as well . But one comment made by Haig jumped out at me. Haig speaking about the death of Kipling's son and thousands of other young men in that war , and other wars ,reflected on how it truly impacts a community. That with each death the family is devastated. Then he mentioned , that with those without any faith or religious beliefs , it must be a feeling of utter hopelessness. The person that you loved is gone forever , off into oblivion .
The honesty to say hopelessness was so refreshing . Most who hold even atheistic beliefs will talk of death as if its somehow purposeful . That we can keep them alive in our hearts nonsense. But as Haig said in the segment , it must in truth lead to a hopeless agony. Apart from a faith in God and an afterlife , death in war or in any sense must lead to despair if one is truthful .
But the gospel invades this despair with hope and peace.Telling us there is more . Jesus Christ is our life giver. When He stood outside the tomb of Lazarus and called out for him to rise , He showed His power over death . Telling Mary and Martha , “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
(John 11:25-26 ESV) Jesus defeated sin,death and hell on the cross and opened the doors of heaven , rising from the dead.
That is the hope available to all who will acknowledge their sinfulness, repent and trust in Jesus . This the only true hope of all . I cannot even fathom living without this hope. Many do . So if we have this hope , should we not share it .
1 comment:
I started watching this because my friend Hil recommended it. She wouldn't tell me anything except that it was a period piece and that I had to see it.
So, I took her advice and loved it. Despite how incredibly sad this movie was, it was incredibly well done. If I was a film critic, I'd give it two thumbs way up.
At the end, I cried my eyes out. Our Jordie was sitting at the computer and I could see him from where I sat. All I could think of was that he was the exact same age as Jack, in the movie. He has the moustache and the short dark hair.
How fortunate we were to still be able to look at him, when they would have given anything to see their boy again.
At one point, when they knew he was dead, his mother talked about him. How she could feel him still. His thick hair, his smell and his warmth. In one of the last scenes, we see her going into his room and putting his suit coat on and laying on his bed with a look of shock and grief on her face that would make the toughest of us weep.
It really makes you think about how incredibly young these boys were, when they went off to war and many of them to die. I noticed Haig's comment, as well. Knowing you would literally never see your child again must bring a depth of grief that cannot be born.
No on should have to bury their young, it doesn't seem right. It happens, all to often though. Without the knowledge of the saving grace of God, how does anyone go on? Love you, Mrs Reg
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