So last week Tom and I Netflixed the movie, Henry Poole Is Here. We liked it. A lot. You can read about it from a favorite reviewer of mine here.
It's about a depressed 30-something guy, Henry, who buys a house and just wants to be left alone (for reasons we soon discover). Except that his neighbors won't leave him alone, especially after a water stain in the form of the face of Christ appears on the outside of his stuccoed house. To his great annoyance, Henry's neighbors turn the wall into a shrine, especially Esperanza, even inviting her friends and her church to view and pray before the stained blue wall.
It's a quirky, different sort of a movie and Tom and I love those. We enjoy films where we can't tell where they will go. There was no sex or violence, but there are bits of naughty language here and there-- if you can handle that, you might enjoy this movie, as we did.
But back to Henry's middle-aged neighbor, Esperanza. She was one incredible, amazing little Catholic woman! What made her so terrific? No matter what terrible things Henry said to Esperanza to get her out of his yard and away from his wall, Esperanza never yelled back. She never became angry with Henry when he shooed away her and her friends. She didn't let his depression-linked actions drive her into a sulky grudge. No, instead, she kept a visible godly compassion for Henry, brought him meals and expressed concern for his sadness-- even after her feelings were hurt, taking her to tears.
Oh to be like Esperanza! To not get offended, but to more clearly see the needs within a person's heart rather than his reactive, verging-on-cruel actions.
We sometimes get so hung up (and afraid) about "witnessing to our neighbors,' but if only we could just love them unconditionally. Maybe that kind of love would win souls and heal broken hearts. Maybe that kind of love, alone, would draw people to the God of All Unconditional Love.
I'm thinking that kind of love would be a great place to start, anyway.
It's about a depressed 30-something guy, Henry, who buys a house and just wants to be left alone (for reasons we soon discover). Except that his neighbors won't leave him alone, especially after a water stain in the form of the face of Christ appears on the outside of his stuccoed house. To his great annoyance, Henry's neighbors turn the wall into a shrine, especially Esperanza, even inviting her friends and her church to view and pray before the stained blue wall.
It's a quirky, different sort of a movie and Tom and I love those. We enjoy films where we can't tell where they will go. There was no sex or violence, but there are bits of naughty language here and there-- if you can handle that, you might enjoy this movie, as we did.
But back to Henry's middle-aged neighbor, Esperanza. She was one incredible, amazing little Catholic woman! What made her so terrific? No matter what terrible things Henry said to Esperanza to get her out of his yard and away from his wall, Esperanza never yelled back. She never became angry with Henry when he shooed away her and her friends. She didn't let his depression-linked actions drive her into a sulky grudge. No, instead, she kept a visible godly compassion for Henry, brought him meals and expressed concern for his sadness-- even after her feelings were hurt, taking her to tears.
Oh to be like Esperanza! To not get offended, but to more clearly see the needs within a person's heart rather than his reactive, verging-on-cruel actions.
We sometimes get so hung up (and afraid) about "witnessing to our neighbors,' but if only we could just love them unconditionally. Maybe that kind of love would win souls and heal broken hearts. Maybe that kind of love, alone, would draw people to the God of All Unconditional Love.
I'm thinking that kind of love would be a great place to start, anyway.
4 comments:
Probably a naive question, but I'm not familiar with the term "witnessing to our neighbors." So, I ask. :-)
Aunt Amelia
"To shorten winter, borrow some money due in spring."
~W.J. Vogel
That sounds like just my kind of movie...thanks for the review!
Thank you for leaving a comment in my blog, answering the question I asked you.
Stay warm tonight! Our forecast here, keeps changing. But as of 3:47pm, it says we'll go down to 1 degree F. tonight. Brrrrrrrr....
Aunt Amelia
"To shorten winter, borrow some money due in spring."
~W.J. Vogel
I loved this movie too!
My husband and I were so moved by the characters and the message. I also loved that the neighbor who is his light is named Dawn. The young check out girl who always tries to be his friend is named Patience. And Esperanza means Hope. I love it and I love this movie. And your so right! Oooo to be like Esperanza.
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