Reconcilliating at the End of the Spear

Fire of Liberty

This past week I've been seeing the advertisements for the movie "End of the Spear" and I have to say that it looks like a pretty good movie to go see. While I'm intrigued by the movie just by watching the previews, I'm pulled into going to the theatres to see it because of the brilliant story that has been presented. Just think about it, this is a movie that is about some five Christian missionaries who go to the Ecuadorian jungle to share their faith with the Woadani Tribe of the native Auca Indians but are tragically killed by members of the tribe . Now while most folks would have wiped their hands clean of this tribe due to their horrific actions, the family of these slain missionaries actually picked up their belongings and returned to this remote jungle to live with the tribe and find a way to forgive them for what they did. In fact the Waodani and these missionaries seemed to have come full circle and some fifty years later these differing people have fully embraced each other as members of each other's families.

I clearly saw this enduring message of forgiveness this morning on FOX & Friends during an interview session with Steve Saint, the child of one of these missionaries who was killed and Mincayani, the chief of the tribe who killed the Steve's father. Sitting side by side the Mincayani noted he sees Steve as his own son and Steve noted that he and his children see Mincayani as their father and grandfather. You've got say that this movie gives the viewer a really great message to society that sometimes people, through the wonderful workings of G-d, can find it in their hearts to forgive people for their actions especially when it comes to a major misunderstanding like the one that cropped up between the missionaries and the tribe. (Though sometimes people can do things that only G-d can offer forgiveness for but that's for another day.) While I can only provide a narrow overview of the movie I can direct you to this wonderful review by columnist Cal Thomas. Though I'll let you read Thomas's whole review, he pretty much sums up the whole movie with the following paragraphs:

All films carry messages ("Brokeback Mountain" is not just a movie about cowboys). In recent years, with some notable exceptions, many of those messages have appealed to our lower nature. "End of the Spear" is not only a true story, but also a compelling one. For those, like me, who have longed to go to movies that are uplifting instead of bottom feeding, this is one of the best.

"End of the Spear" is the latest in a steadily growing number of films that are taking on culture on its own turf. Instead of cursing darkness, more independent producers are beginning to make good movies (do not confuse "good" in content with bad in execution) containing positive messages.

This is a story that is not only worth retelling, but is worth emulating. A liberal neighbor of mine has a sign in his yard that reads, "War is not the answer." We can debate that, but we can't debate reconciliation as the answer. It works, as this marvelous movie so beautifully and breathtakingly demonstrates.

I hope Hollywood is finally learning the people in the Heartland want to watch movies that provide a great story and not some quasi-political movie that tries to become the next protest or issue oriented movie. And people wonder why folks are drawn to the old black and white movies and the films from the "Golden Era" of films. I bet you'll remember those films and gems like "End of the Spear" (And a select few of the current era of film) a heck of a lot easier than some of the stuff that is being churned out of Tinsel Town today. My best advice is to go see the movie "End of the Spear" and see it for yourself.