The Blind Side

"The Blind Side", released on November 2009, is an Oscar winning movie with another four wins and twelve nominations. I had the privilege to watch the movie for the second time last weekend.

The movie tells the story of Michael Oher, a young lad that grew up in the inner city housing project called "Hurt Village". He was taken away from His drug-addicted mother at early age and after being in and out foster homes, he was homeless. His life began to turn around when he got into a Christian school. Not many people in that school showed him compassion, except the little S.J. and his mother Leigh Ann Tuohy. The Tuohys are a well-to-do Christian family. Michael found himself staying with them in their house and becoming a part of the family before too long.

Even though Michael's new life was so much better, it wasn't one without hardship and toil. Laughter was balanced with tears, wealth with danger, love from inside with hatred from outside. However, regardless of the circumstances, he received the unfailing support from the Tuohys.

Michael also found himself playing regular football for Wingate Christian School after the Tuohys helped him with his grades. College football coaches came from all across the country to recruit him. Regardless of all the fame and the fortune he could get by playing for more renown universities, he excercised his free will by choosing the one his family wishes for, the Ole Miss.

It could ended there with a "happily ever after" cliche, but it didn't. Resistance from outside still oppressing him. He was confused, ran away from the Tuohys, and returned to the "Hurt Village". The community there welcomed him back with their arms and smile wide open. Fortunately, he was reminded of the Tuohy's love and went berserk when his old friends mock and scorn them. He then got reunited with the Tuohys', but not after Leigh Anne sought him to that dangerous neighborhood. The story ended with a real footage of Michael Oher drafted by the Raven Baltimore as an offensive left tackle.

The story was a good picture of God's marvelous grace to us. Our life was as misserable as it could be. Our soul is destined to hell regardless of our social or economical status. But somehow, we found ourselves amongs God's people. Our life began to change when we met the Son of God. Jesus invited us into the family of God and some of us accepted that invitation. We were once hopeless and homeless, now we are a part of the richest family in the universe and a mansion waits for us just across this life.

We don't find it easy to live this new life, but we always find God's unfailing support as the Holy Spirit guides and leads us along. If you are a born-again Chrsitian, you have to realize that God saved you for a purpose, a divine purpose, and we are to surrender to that. Don't worry though, you do not have to do it alone. If we rely on God, He will do it for us, in us, and through us! But as we yield our will to God's, we will hear the world calling out our name, reminding us the fame and fortune we could receive. May we never forget of what God did to us on Calvary. May we ask Him to lead us to Calvary each day lest we forget Gethsemane, His agony, and His love for us.

To make all of these practical, I challenge you to do unto others, not as what they've done unto you, but as what God has done unto us. Another application you can make out of my rambling is to invest your life into other's. Yes, the road maybe rough; Yes, he/she will run away; Yes, it may cost a fortune; but God said this in His Words: "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." - Galatians 6:9