Friday, February 13, 2004
My favorite movies are about teachers. From To Sir with Love to Dead Poet Society to Mona Lisa Smile, they all have elements that I resonate with for some reason.
Mr Holland's Opus tells the story of a band teacher in the 60's. He would rather be a muscian but hopes his teaching position is temporary. His life, as it unfolds, doesn't leave much time or energy for a musical legacy.
Over 35 years, he eventually develops a life mission in teaching the arts to students but is about, once again, to lose his position in school cuts.
As he comes to his classroom to get his belongings after teaching his final class, he sadly gathers his stuff along with the memories of his career. His family joins him.
As they begin to leave, he hears some noise in the auditorium. As he checks it out, he sees a overflow crowd of his former students and fellow teachers and sees the banner that says “Goodbye, Mr. Holland.” He is greeted with a standing ovation while a ensemble plays songs he taught them. Eventually the governor (a former student of Holland's) arrives. He had helped her believe in herself and she addresses everyone.
“Mr. Holland had a profound influence in my life (on a lot of lives, I know), and yet I get the feeling that he considers a great part of his life misspent. Rumor had it he was always working on this symphony of his, and this was going to make him famous and rich (probably both). But Mr. Holland isn’t rich and he isn’t famous. At least not outside our little town. So it might be easy for him to think himself a failure, but he’d be wrong. Because I think he’s achieved a success far beyond riches and fame.”
She then says “Look around you. There is not a life in this room that you have not touched, and each one of us is a better person because of you. We are your symphony, Mr. Holland. We are the melodies and the notes of your opus. And we are the music of your life.”
_________________________________
In some ways, that is my life. The church is my opus. God's opus. I have often reflected on what course my life could have taken or career paths I could have pursued. But it always comes back to this. The church is the only instititution in this world that matters eternally.
I feel like Paul sometimes... when he said ...
We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
1 Thess 2:8-9
I know that I've not been perfect by a longshot at modeling Christ to others. But I long for real authentic community where Christ is honored. To the degree that this has happened in the ministry I participate in, it's opus enough.
* Opus - A creative work, (especially musical) numbered to designate the order of a composer's works.
Mr Holland's Opus tells the story of a band teacher in the 60's. He would rather be a muscian but hopes his teaching position is temporary. His life, as it unfolds, doesn't leave much time or energy for a musical legacy.
Over 35 years, he eventually develops a life mission in teaching the arts to students but is about, once again, to lose his position in school cuts.
As he comes to his classroom to get his belongings after teaching his final class, he sadly gathers his stuff along with the memories of his career. His family joins him.
As they begin to leave, he hears some noise in the auditorium. As he checks it out, he sees a overflow crowd of his former students and fellow teachers and sees the banner that says “Goodbye, Mr. Holland.” He is greeted with a standing ovation while a ensemble plays songs he taught them. Eventually the governor (a former student of Holland's) arrives. He had helped her believe in herself and she addresses everyone.
“Mr. Holland had a profound influence in my life (on a lot of lives, I know), and yet I get the feeling that he considers a great part of his life misspent. Rumor had it he was always working on this symphony of his, and this was going to make him famous and rich (probably both). But Mr. Holland isn’t rich and he isn’t famous. At least not outside our little town. So it might be easy for him to think himself a failure, but he’d be wrong. Because I think he’s achieved a success far beyond riches and fame.”
She then says “Look around you. There is not a life in this room that you have not touched, and each one of us is a better person because of you. We are your symphony, Mr. Holland. We are the melodies and the notes of your opus. And we are the music of your life.”
_________________________________
In some ways, that is my life. The church is my opus. God's opus. I have often reflected on what course my life could have taken or career paths I could have pursued. But it always comes back to this. The church is the only instititution in this world that matters eternally.
I feel like Paul sometimes... when he said ...
We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
1 Thess 2:8-9
I know that I've not been perfect by a longshot at modeling Christ to others. But I long for real authentic community where Christ is honored. To the degree that this has happened in the ministry I participate in, it's opus enough.
* Opus - A creative work, (especially musical) numbered to designate the order of a composer's works.
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