Spoiler Alert! This article discusses certain aspects of the movie "The Mule." If you haven't seen it and plan to do you might want to bookmark this page for a later date. You have been warned.
BBBH said, "Let's go to the show tonight. Clint Eastwood usually plays the good guy, but I guess he is the bad guy in this film, and I would like to see it."
Naturally we braved the elements and took our seats in a crowded theater, bothering the aisle seat people, of course, who left the remaining pair of seats inside. BBBH muttered "Sorry," as she passed through; I said, "I'm not sorry, but excuse us anyway."
The picture ran its course and the house lights came up. As we exited the theater we met a couple, our friends, also on their way out. We greeted each other and stood a few moments in the foyer. "I didn't like the way the show ended," remarked the gentleman.
"Oh? Why not"
"Well, he should have taken the money and sailed off to the Caribbean in his new yacht."
"No," I replied. "He got better than he deserved."
And there it is. Perspective shaped by the forces that make each of us who he or she is. In a sense my friend was rooting for the bad guy. Go figure. Perhaps his analysis suggested to him that the old man was caught up in a web from which he could not extricate himself. And that is very likely the case, but still he made the choice to pursue the nefarious activities. Actions have consequences.
My take on it was this. The old man elicited our sympathies in many ways, yet he was knowingly engaged in poisoning his fellow-citizens with illicit drugs. On his last run he was carrying 307 kilos of cocaine and that is not to mention the eleven previous runs. He deserved punishment.
Yet he got better than he deserved, for in a sense "The Mule" is a story of redemption. We see the man mending fences he tore down over this lifetime; we see reconciliation with his family, and he is 90 years old. Of course we want a "happy ending." And I think we got it. Earl goes to prison, but even there he lives with the knowledge that his family has readmitted him into their lives. He continues to pursue his work with his beloved day lilies on the prison grounds.
Earl confessed his sins in open court. If we confess our sins in the open court of God's judgment God is "faithful and just to forgive us our sins." Our consciences are clear. We are redeemed. But.here is a point that I think many people overlook. Redemption does not erase the consequences of wrong behaviors. Actions have consequences.
God forgives and we can forgive ourselves. But the price in the natural realm will be paid.
6 comments:
I used to speak of sin and punishment, and while that is eternally true, my choice of words has changed. Now I think and talk about choices and consequences.
Chuck, sin and punishment are eternal verities. I think it is true that many people understand the concept of choices and consequences, for to them their actions may not be defincd as "sin" in their vocabulary.
I don't plan to see this movie but it sounds really interesting. I actually like movies with fairy-tale endings - my escape from reality. That's why I can rewatch movies such as, "While You Were Sleeping" and "Crocodile Dundee." : )
Vee, maybe a chick flick, but I liked "While You Were Sleeping."
Vee, wait. Hit "post" then thought, "Was it the movie I liked, or was it Sandra Bullock?"
Sandra - a favorite actress (and I don't have many favorites).
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