Saturday, February 06, 2010
Saving Grace
I watch the TV series, "Saving Grace" starring Holly Hunter. It is quite a disturbing show and if I had small children or teenagers in the home I would not let them watch it. It is set in Oklahoma City and often promotes the "Boomer Sooners" which, for aHusker fan, is reason enough not to let minors watch it.
It is also a violent and over-sexed series seen on cable. Stories of rape, child sex sales, kidnapping and whatever is known as "evil that lurks in the hearts of men". It also depicts full nudity with graphic sex scenes. A personal note: That's not entertaining.
Maybe that's why its being cancelled after Summer 2010. The network states it does not have a large enough audience and failing financially.
But what is interesting is the purposeful theology of the show. The character of Ms. Hunter, Detective Grace Hanadarko, is being "pestered" by a last chance Angel named Earl. Yeah, go figure. The premise of the show is that Earl is trying to get Grace to accept, believe and have faith in God. Grace hates God.Grace hates God after losing her sister in the Oklahoma City bombing and for all the violence she witnesses in the world and tries to escape her own childhood abuse by escaping into torrid sex with multiple partners including strangers.
Ok, that's a BB synopsis.
What I find fascinating is the writers have insight to God that is rarely found in TV or movies. That God is a God of love and forgiveness and He will not give up. Yes, God is male in the show.
Earl is always present in all situations doing only what God commands and not always knowing what Gods plans are. He does know that if he fails in his mission with Grace she will die and be lost from God. Quite the message coming out of LA and TVland.
But it is true. God never gives up on reaching out to his creation, His children of image. No matter how abusive we get towards one another and to God the message is clear. God loves us and forgives us. No matter how vile our thoughts or evil our actions - God loves us.
GOD LOVES US
Its February and we celebrate Valentine's Day. Its also the month, this year, we will recognize and celebrate Ash Wednesday. Interesting we will be giving Chocolates on the 14th and giving them up for Lent on the 17th. It is also a wonderful puzzlement that for forty days we can reflect on perfect love of a perfect God.
God offered the Jews salvation through the Law of Moses and for Christians He offers salvation through the death of Jesus. God continues to reach out with the means necessary to let us know we are loved.
Maybe we don't have last chance Angels like Earl in our lives. But we do have God's love as understood in His Holy Word. The Bible.
"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." John 3: 16.
The apostle John did not pen this for a sound byte. He wrote it because it is the truth.
Maybe Grace will turn to God at series end. It is sad the TV series is about Grace running from God and refusing His love. But then again, look at your neighbors and friends and realize some of them are just like Grace.
And maybe . . . you're the Earl in their life and a way to saving grace.
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