To Save a Life

To Save a Life is definitely a must-watch for all people of all nations! Although it's a Christian movie, it is not a preachy movie, and no, it doesn't force religion on you. Rather, I feel it does the exact opposite. It opens you up to endless possibilities and inspires you to take a stance in your community to love other people, no matter who they are! So Christian or non-Christian, it's still a great movie that you should watch!! It's even funny at times.

So often we sit in our comfort zones, waiting for something big to happen. Last week at our youth retreat, the speaker summed it up nicely-we are trapped in our Christian bubble. We are like football players huddling up, but never actually playing (another great analogy from another speaker lol). Obviously this doesn't apply to everyone (I know some really proactive people and what they are doing is great), but in a society where we have all are needs and more taken care of, it's hard to think of taking the time to help out people as something urgent. 

But this movie challenges us to do otherwise. Jake Taylor, a star athlete with his life all put-together, witnesses his best childhood friend (whom he has ignored for several years) commit suicide in front of his eyes. It throws Jake into a labyrinth of guilt and confusion, thinking what if he had reached out and is what the society values all there is to life? Then he meets a pastor after a basketball game, who invites him to church. Jake says he's not religious. The pastor says he isn't either (to explain: I think he's saying that Christianity isn't just about passively going to church on Sundays, it's a way of life; actively expressing the love of Jesus to others where ever you go). When Jake gets drunk that night and the pastor sends him home, it begins a series of changes in Jake's heart.

Jake starts to view everyone as important and hangs out with the "losers" of the school. He helps and loves everyone to the best of his ability, wanting to make sure that everyone feels like they have value. Well, the plot is actually a lot more intricate than that, but I'll let you watch it to find out >:) And even if you're not a fan of "cheese" (sorry if my mini-synopsis sounded cheesy) you still should watch it lol.

What I love about this movie is that it tests the importance of what we value in life. In comparison to Roger's suicide (that's his friend's name btw), does popularity, Jake's comfort zone, and reputation matter? Heck no. In fact, if Jake had taken the time to interact with Roger, it may have not turned out that way. It makes us realize that our pride, our social image, our whatever doesn't matter. This movie really reflects what Paul says in Philippians 3:7: "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ."

Another thing is that I really enjoy is that this movie clears some misconceptions that people have about Christianity. It's not a stiff, narrow-minded religion, rather, it's a path of freedom (and LOOVVEE). Christianity isn't about a bunch of rules of having it all together, rather, it's about realizing that you'll never have it all together and that you need Jesus. Jake partied, got his girlfriend pregnant, swore in church, and the list goes on and on. He's definitely not a "model Christian," but that's totally irrelevant. He was still able to impact a lot of people, despite his own mistakes. 

For me personally, after reflecting back on last school year, I feel like I've been stagnant in my relationships with others. I didn't even take the time to care. And to think that there could be so many suffering people around me each day without me even knowing out of my ignorance...that really hits home. I feel that it's perfect timing that our youth group decided to show this movie the Friday before school starts, because it really sorts my priorities back in order :P Man, I am so excited for school to start. I can't wait to interact with everyone and hopefully support them, and fix whatever I didn't do last year.

If anyone ever reads this, stranger or friend, I want you to know that I will be here for you to the best of my ability. Email me anytime (I will love you overtime-Van Ness Wu's song!! But it's true). 

Just remember folks, Jesus loves you. It's so true.

Peace