Life Lessons from Forrest Gump

Tonight I was suprised by several of my peers at my house. I won't go through the details now, but I will say that we did end up watching Forrest Gump. First off I would like to say that Forrest Gump is an amazing and very emotionally stirring movie. Next I would like to look at some of the themes from the movie itself.

In the movie, Forrest is the "good guy." Forrest was always there for Jenny. He always supported her and defended her. She in turn was the first to reach out and be nice to Forrest. As Jenny began to grow up, she began to let her life go down the tube. She began to draw away from Forrest, and got invloved in many terrible things and almost commited suicide. In the end she died because of her unwise decisions and because of the downhill road she had placed herself. Forrest however, remained stedfast throughout. Forrest always helped her when she needed him, and he always helped her even when she didn't know she needed him. Forrest was not a smart man, but he knew "what love is." According to the Apostle Paul, love is the most important thing, and love was exactly what Forrest always offered her, because he had nothing else. Forrest could not necessarily offer fame, glamour, or excitement; just pure unconditional love. Even when Forrest got rich, he knew it was not his money that Jenny needed, but his love.

As a human who has had his shares of emotional highs and lows, I find that I can relate to Forrest very well. I'm sure many of us can. I have definitly had my share of girl troubles. Sometimes they are just hard to understand, and I'm sure that Forrest felt the same way about Jenny. At one point Forrest says "I would like to be your boyfriend," in that most innocent way that only Forrest could say. In my mind, Forrest is saying not that he wants to date her, but that he is willing to defend and protect her, and love her when no one else will. What did Jenny do, she denied him and went off to continue her life of sex and drugs.Forrest was left to play the waiting game as he did so much of his life. I know how Forrest feels.

At the same time that I am comforted by finding common ground with Forrest, I am scarred when I find common ground with Jenny. No I have never drank or smoked, or had sex, but when I force myself to look deep inside, I see blackness. I see the same corruption that drove Jenny to the life she lived. Some may say that it is hard to relate to such opposites as Forrest and Jenny, but I do. I am both sinner and saint. I am blackened with sin, but sanctified by Christ.

Another relation that I make, is that of Forrest to Christ Jesus. I am in no way saying that they have the same intelligence level, or that Forrest was perfect, but they both had similar servant attitudes. Jenny could also be compared to mankind. Christ supports each and everyone of us just as Forrest was always there for Jenny. Mankind and Jenny constantly left Christ and Forrest, and went off there own way, only to find that there own way led to pain, death, and darkness (Jenny tried to commit suicide). When Jenny finally decides to come back, Forrest was not angry, but overjoyed. So to is Christ, when we by His power come back to Him. Forrest spent every hour of the rest of his life serving Jenny and comforting her as she slowly died. So to Christ comforts us and cares for us when we feel we are "dying." In the end, we know that through Christ we will not die, but live eternally with Him in heaven.

Tonight a very great friend of mine presented me with a card that contained the Bible verse "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." (Deut 31:6).

Forrest supported Jenny, but that was just a movie. Christ supports us and will never fail us, and that is truth.

"We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us."