the greatest story

            One of the most powerful and compelling stories that modern man has created would have to be the story of Les Miserables. I know what your thinking, “yes I know, this one of the most beloved award-winning stories of all time, what’s new?” Well, I’ll tell you, relax. First off, I’ll spoil the whole story in one word, “forgiveness”. If you’ve seen the movie with Liam Neeson, you’ll be dragged through a heap of emotions. Now I say this with the kindest and heartfelt intentions. This movie is incredible and most certainly changed my life. Something this relevant and powerful should be experienced by everybody, whether they wished to be plunged into unpleasant depths of the human soul or not. Most of us would agree that Schindler’s List, which represents the Holocaust, were some of the darkest moments in human history. However, shouldn’t we all be reminded of the horrible atrocities that were committed in those evil times? It keeps us sober to the reality of the brokenness of man. We can’t manage on our own, and to think otherwise is complete foolishness.

The story of Les Miserables puts us into a place of unwanted discomfort, a place of injustice, failure, hate, and unforgiveness. Despite this, it also offers a way out, a simple solution: loving others beyond yourself. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? The main character Jean Valjean ultimately is faced with giving up his rights completely to the discriminating will of his would-be captor, Javert. This in-turn bewilders Javert to give up hope for his life because it was built upon his insatiable lust for justice at any cost. Javert’s ideology could be easily compared to the Biblical Mosaic Law of, “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.”

            It is not just the story of this film that inspires me, it is something I gladly choose to live by. For in it I have found inexplicable joy in not expecting anything in return, but to love for the sake of loving. However strong my efforts might be at this tremendous endeavor, I fail miserably in my humanness. But I don’t despair, because my hope is in something greater, and that is in Jesus Christ. By the time you’ve read this, your reaction may be many different things. But I cannot hide the fact that knowing Jesus is the single greatest thing I have ever experienced in this life. The truth is, the Gospel is the only story which has truly shaped the way I live my life, one built on hope, and more importantly, love.