A Trip to Heaven

Note: A LOT of spoiler alerts on the new Heaven is for Real movie

            This is one of the sweetest movies I’ve ever seen, but also simultaneously bothersome. Just like some of the characters (and people in real life since this is based off of a true story) in the movie, this idea of a little boy going to heaven bothered me. I don’t really know why. Maybe it’s because, like the others, I had my own idea of what heaven was like and I didn’t want someone telling me I was wrong.

            I warmed up to the idea, though, and enjoyed the movie quite a bit. I have a lot of good things to say. The acting was well done and the actors well picked. It had a great balance between whimsical and serious with an important message to say.

            One of my favorite parts, which hardly had anything to do with the plot until the very end, was how the movie started off with this image of a young girl painting an eye. By the end, it’s revealed that she is a child prodigy who paints her religious visions. She paints Jesus and Colton, the little boy, recognizes it as the same Jesus he met in heaven. Since I’ve heard about this girl before, Akiane Kramarik, I just got really excited. (Seriously, her artwork is amazing: https://www.akiane.com/store/).

            Moving on, the real part I loved was near the end when Colton’s father, Todd, finally faces his congregation and the media on Colton’s trip to heaven. After a serious of difficult events that year and a personal journey to figure out whether or not to believe his son, Todd admits to himself and everyone else that he believes Colton. He admits he believes God at least showed Colton a version of heaven and that was good enough for him. He said more, but honestly I can’t remember because it’s been a few days since I saw the film. I just really admire the scene, how Todd came to the conclusion, and how he had the courage to face everyone after his family was struggling because of the fame following Colton.

            Now, as much as I liked the film, I can say there were parts of it I didn’t agree with. Like all Christian movies tend to do, I felt that it had one of those “happily-ever-after because of God” feels. That’s not necessarily bad, but I think that’s just going to turn those who aren’t Christian away from the movie.

            What really bothered me was whenever the film attempted to show what Colton was describing in heaven. I know, creative liberties, but I felt that it took away from the main point. Wasn’t the point that Todd doesn’t know whether or not to believe Colton? Showing what Colton saw is like telling the viewers, “Yes, Heaven is real. Here it is so you can believe Colton while Todd figures it out.” It simply took away from the conflict and didn’t allow me to imagine Colton’s descriptions.

            This was really the only bothersome aspect, but while reading movie reviews I found a point I’d like to address. Movie critic, Adam Markowitz, claimed, “There's no antagonist, no resolution, and no real climax — just a series of mildly charming scenes in which Colton shares heavenly knowledge while his family reacts with awestruck tears.” What he’s referring to is the fact that Todd goes through a series of events, from breaking his leg, to passing kidney stones, to almost losing his son, and in the midst of it all is his son’s trip to heaven and how it affected the family.

I only agree with Markowitz up to a point. I simply don’t see a real problem with what he critiqued. This movie is based on a book, which is based on a true story. That happens in life sometimes. A series of bad events occur and in the midst of it all is something greater going on. And I think there’s more than just Colton sharing tidbits of “heavenly knowledge,” Todd is really going through a personal ordeal with the media bothering his family and his congregation and with himself on whether or not to believe his son. I don’t see why that can’t be enough for a movie.

In general, though I disagree with a thing or two, I think Heaven is for Real is a beautiful, Christian movie, which I enjoyed a lot more than Noah (as can be seen by my previous post: http://sowhatimachristianteen.blogspot.com/2014/04/noah-more-like-not-ah.html).

To me, it was just a must see and still is.

Sources:

Markowitz, Adam. "Movie Review: Heaven Is for Real." EW.com. Entertainment Weekly, 18

Apr. 2014. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.<http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C20483133_20764834%2C00.html>.

A Good Friday Post: Good Friday Experience

            I know a few days have passed since Good Friday, but I haven’t had a chance to write about this and I need to.

            Something happened to me at the special service at my church last Friday. I’m not even sure if I can explain how I felt, but it all started with the song “La Niña de Tus Ojos.”

            First off, a loose translation is “The Child of Your Eyes.” It kind of loses the meaning with the translation, but I’ll try to explain it. The song is basically about being God’s child and how He sees us and loves us when no one else does. It’s one of my favorites.

            When the congregation started singing, I sang along half-heartedly. Honestly, I was distracted by the cross hanging on the wall. It was decorated with a black shroud and a crown of thorns. I was extremely focused on this, recalling all that I knew about Jesus’ death.

            Images appeared in my mind like pop-up ads on a computer screen. Jesus attacked by loathsome Roman soldiers. Jesus bleeding profusely from deep, aching gashes. Jesus carrying His own cross when He could barely carry His own weight. Jesus with a crown of thorns pressing into His already tormented skin. Jesus’ hands and feet being nailed through by the same Roman soldiers as if they were just hammering paper to a post. Jesus hanging on the cross, dripping blood under the sun instead of sweat. And finally, Jesus taking His last breath and dying.

            Jesus dying for me.

            These images flashed in my mind as the song started. Suddenly, personal images replaced the others. There were images of me at times when I’ve felt most alone in my life and of times when I’ve been so ashamed of something I did that I thought no one could ever love me if they knew.

            Then, there was the same image of Jesus dying for me.

Right there, standing at the pew with those I care about, I began to cry. I tried to hold back the tears, not wanting to alarm anyone. Ultimately, I excused myself. I headed for the bathroom, shut the door, and slid to the floor to let it all out.

My eyeliner was smeared, tears leaving slightly black streaks down my cheeks. My hands were wet from wiping away as many tears as possible. I couldn’t breath out of my nose and every time someone knocked I had to say someone was in the bathroom with the best “I’m fine!” voice that I could manage.

As cliché as it sounds I don’t know what came over me. There was just something that got to me.

Jesus died, for me, for everyone. Who even does that? What kind of person would give his life for people who didn’t accept him? What kind of person would submit to the death penalty of a criminal when he was innocent? What kind of person would be willing to be tortured and downright suffer one of the most painful deaths imaginable while having the power to stop it? Who would do that and why?

I can only think of one who would and one reason why.

The only reason I think anyone would die for another person is love. Personally, I can think of a few people I love that I’d die for. But die for people who don’t love me back, who hate me, who don’t even know me yet? And not only that, but die one of the most painful deaths possible? I could never do that.

Jesus did.

Now, I’ve grown up in a Christian household, so I know the Bible stories, if at least the children versions. As I grew up, I’ve found my own relationship with God and read the Bible on my own, so I know the stories more in depth too. My whole life I’ve known that Jesus died for our sins. It was common knowledge.

Yet, there I was, rediscovering the story and it felt like a punch in the gut. What I felt was so powerful, so overwhelming, that I had to cry it out on the bathroom floor. And I prayed, over and over, thanking Jesus for what He did, telling and showing Him just how much I loved Him.

 I simply realized, yet again, that Jesus died for me. Like the song said, God sees and loves me when no one else does. As a result, He was willing to die, a most painful death that I’d never wish upon anyone.

As I got up from the floor, I continued listening to the song. By then, the congregation was repeatedly singing the last line, “Te amo más que a mi vida,” which means, “I love you more than my own life.”

And as I stood at the sink, cleaning myself up after this entire ordeal, I sang along with my heart full of love, to God, to Jesus, over and over, with the congregation out there, completely oblivious to what I had just gone through.

An Easter Post: Jesus, the Easter Bunny?

            Truth: I have no idea how the Easter Bunny is connected to Jesus. Personally, when I picture Jesus on Easter, I picture Him rising from the tomb, all glorious and awesome, not as a bunny with a basket hiding eggs full of candy.

            Just because I cannot see the direct connection between Jesus and the Easter Bunny, I don’t think that should impede on celebrating a Christian Easter that includes the Easter Bunny.

            I heard about an activity on the radio that I would like to try someday, whether with my family or friends from youth group. The idea is to take plastic Easter eggs, but instead of filling them with candy, filling them with strips of paper that have Bible verses relating to the Easter story. Then, of course, the eggs have to be hidden all over the place. After the kids, or whoever participates, find all of the eggs, everyone comes together to share what he or she found and talk about the Easter story.

             Personally, I think this is an awesome idea! It’s easily customizable too, I’ve noticed. I tried to find the activity online, but I’ve only found similar activities that sound like the one I heard online, but are slightly different. The one I liked the most was this one: http://www.families.com/blog/an-easter-egg-hunt-with-a-christian-twist.

            I like the idea of taking the popular, societal fun activity for Easter and giving it a Christian twist. Christian kids (and teens!) don’t feel out that way.

            Now if only that could be done with everything…

Happy Easter!