Tonight I was watching the movie "P.S. I love you" - a great movie. But in the movie the main character, Hillary Swank is talking about how after her dad left at 14, she vowed no men ever again. But then she met her husband who was the love of her life, and he died of brain cancer. She said a very interesting statement following that line, "what was the point?" She is saying what was the point of getting married and experiencing her time with him......when he ended up dying so young?
I think often in life we ask this question, I know I have from time to time....wondering the reasons why things happen in life. As I reflect on different difficult times in my life, I can still sometimes wonder "what was the point".....and even still feel pain at times. It can range from the small things in life.....really bad days,difficult relationships, to losing loved ones, etc.......what is the point in experiencing this, why? Or even better yet, perhaps you look at another person's life, and their tragedies and difficulties.....and wonder "what is the point?" Why must they go through such heartache?
As I ponder on this statement tonight, I started to think....perhaps "the point" is the journey along the way. I know I am such a stronger person from the difficult life experiences I have had and experienced. I have learned from those times, where I have really questioned "what is the point." Life can seem so unfair at times. I am not trying to saying I have had many difficult experiences, but I am sure anyone reading this can think of times in their lives that were really difficult and you cannot wrap your mind around why you must have to experience this.
So whereas, I am sure she would rather not have lost her husband and experienced that heartache, I wonder if "Hillary Swank" would be able to look back on all of the experiences and the life learning that took place after his death (I know, I know it is just a movie)? Would someone like that be able to focus on how far they have come after that horrible ordeal......and think about what they have learned along the way? I am not by any stretch of the means saying that the point of a life changing tragedy is so that person can change, or that it should have happened....but rather....can we change our thought-process in the midst of a difficult time and learn about ourselves in the midst (I hope I am making sense)??? As we all know, hard things are going to take place, and we are going to have to learn and cope with difficult, life-changing events......so instead of saying "what is the point" we can try to think of what we can learn and think about the other positive aspects of our lives. Perhaps this can only happen in retrospect....but even if only during that time.....learning, growing and changing for the better is always good! :-)
Here is a link to a good song they play at the of the movie (there are many great songs in this movie, but I really enjoy this one...the words), by James Blunt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf4xgf3gL4w
I think you are so right, Amy! The journey can be so valuable, but sometimes we don't see it until a ways down the road. I think these times are often opportunities for us to turn to God, also. If we aren't willing to do it in the good times, sometimes we are in the bad...He gives us reason to fall into the only arms that can truly comfort us.
ReplyDeleteooh good post. have you ever read snickollet's blog? www.snickollet.blogspot.com she lost her husband and father of their twins to pancreatic cancer...her whole blog is about her life during and after his death. it's an amazing story. she asks the same questions.
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