Inside Out

“The choice before us is rather stark: either live to be comfortable (both internally and externally) or live to know God. We can’t have it both ways. One choice excludes the other.” --Dr. Larry Crabb, Inside Out

When Hollywood makes a movie out of a book, they rarely get it right. There a lot of reasons for this. Among these are the limited amounts of time they have to: tell the story, develop characters, and set up the climax. Often, the screen version of a story doesn’t ring as true as the printed one due to lack of integrity in holding to the author’s originally intended message. Sometimes, though, for whatever reason, a movie made from a good book just stinks. Maybe it’s the change of medium, selection of actors, or a director’s hangover. Regardless, sometimes you wish they had left well enough alone.
A recent exception is “The Shawshank Redemption.” In wonderful adaptation of a Stephen King short story, “Redemption” portrays a tale of wrongful imprisonment involving a crooked warden, life-sentence inmates, and sadistic guards. The main character Andy, after a long stretch of time ‘inside’, decides to take matters into his own hands. We see Andy concoct an elaborate escape route and emerge outside the walls of the prison raising his arms skyward in exuberant celebration of sweet release.
The choices presented to Andy in the penitentiary grew to be unacceptable to him. He no longer wanted to endure the monotonous drudgery of prison life. He had tired of the abuse, and knowing that he didn’t belong there in the first place, he took matters into his own hands. He got out. Andy found the courage and resolve to set a course of action and follow through. He took great risk—his own life included, but he stayed the course. The moral question of prison escape aside, Andy displayed great determination, patience, and resolve in the face of daunting circumstance and hopeless situation.
Both King’s original story that I read as a teen and Hollywood’s rendition of this tale challenge me to engage in some serious self-reflection and assessment. Have I constructed a prison with my choices? Or, do I constantly chip away at the wall of present circumstances in patient assurance that light will break through at any time and guide the way to freedom? Am I submitting to the ‘warden’ of comfortable lifestyle? Who have I left in charge of guarding me? What’s on the other side of confinement? Can I trust God enough to see me through? In the midst of enormous frustration with my current situation, will I concede control to the One who knows what’s best for me? Will I trust His love enough to make up for all the disappointment I face in me and in others? (The perfect peace of Jesus making the rounds in the cellblock of my mind and heart)
At some point, we must face the reality of where our lives have taken us. Whether in desperation or abundance, we are presented with turning points of decision as to what our lives will amount to. Will I pursue success, or will I strive for significance instead? Will I leave a mark?
In the movie, Andy is talking to his closest friend and relating the conclusions he’s drawn. Andy has reached his ‘point of no return’ and with remarkable clarity summarizing the alternatives as he sees them with this statement, “Time to get busy livin’ or get busy dyin’.” The road to self-protection and self-fulfillment leads straight inside a prison constructed with the four walls of frustrating routine, empty depression, selfish longing, and shallow relationships. I’m there. It’s time to tunnel out. It’ll take time, patience, and determination. I’ll have to ‘dig’ at night-after my regular working hours. But, Jesus is keeping watch for me. I guess I’ll have to listen attentively for his whisper, and wait for that small speck of light to start shining through. There’s freedom on the other side. On the other side is life: passionately pursuing a life of knowing God and trusting his love enough to truly love others.

“In every situation, there’s a way to respond that pleases God. And that must be our goal: to please God rather than to relieve all distress.” --Dr. Crabb