Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Tonight, I watched the movie Woodlawn for the first time. It occurred to me that despite the fact that I was born years after the events, that I've never lived in Alabama, and that I never played high school football, I have a closer connection to the story than the vast majority of people who have seen the movie probably have. You see, my parents attended Woodlawn High School at that time. I heard plenty of stories about Tony Nathan as a kid, and I've been a lifelong Alabama fan. Because of the opportunities I've had to work the sidelines of local high school football games, I understand the football side of it much better than most with my background. I think that makes me appreciate the story more than I otherwise would or could.
This post is not going to be a review of the movie, nor will it be any kind of a social commentary. There's something far more important that I want to try to do here. I want to look at the impact of one character who appeared early in the movie and the ripple effect that he created by doing one thing: he chose to be a peacemaker.
If you've seen the movie, you likely know that I'm talking about Hank. Hank acted as a peacemaker between two groups of people that hated one another. Eventually, his impact also struck Woodlawn's biggest rival, Banks, creating a level of friendship between two teams who were arguably the most bitter rivals in the State of Alabama at that time.
How did he do it? As he told Woodlawn head coach Tandy Gerelds at their first meeting, he wanted to tell the team about Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." That's what Hank did. He lifted up Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ drew the young men on that team to Him. Jesus Christ brought peace into the hearts of those young men, and the change they experienced demonstrated how to have peace to those around them.
Jesus Christ, and He alone, is the source of true peace. Everyone has a desire for peace, but there are many who fail to find it. The reason is that they search everywhere but the right place. The things that the world tells them give peace only lead to destruction. The world's route to "peace" often leads to hatred and violence. It doesn't take a genius to look around at our world and see that.
The children of God are to be peacemakers. We know something by experience that many of the people around us are completely unfamiliar with. We know the secret to true peace. The thing is, it's our job to make sure that the secret gets out. We as Christians know something that can change the world. Not only that, but we have been commanded to share that knowledge.
Are you a peacemaker? As unbelievable as it might seem, to be one is a simple thing. All you have to do is share Jesus. Tell people that He's the answer to the longing in their souls. Tell them that He is the source of the peace they've searched for. As shown near the end of Woodlawn, there is One Way. That way is Jesus Christ.
Matthew 5:9
Tonight, I watched the movie Woodlawn for the first time. It occurred to me that despite the fact that I was born years after the events, that I've never lived in Alabama, and that I never played high school football, I have a closer connection to the story than the vast majority of people who have seen the movie probably have. You see, my parents attended Woodlawn High School at that time. I heard plenty of stories about Tony Nathan as a kid, and I've been a lifelong Alabama fan. Because of the opportunities I've had to work the sidelines of local high school football games, I understand the football side of it much better than most with my background. I think that makes me appreciate the story more than I otherwise would or could.
This post is not going to be a review of the movie, nor will it be any kind of a social commentary. There's something far more important that I want to try to do here. I want to look at the impact of one character who appeared early in the movie and the ripple effect that he created by doing one thing: he chose to be a peacemaker.
If you've seen the movie, you likely know that I'm talking about Hank. Hank acted as a peacemaker between two groups of people that hated one another. Eventually, his impact also struck Woodlawn's biggest rival, Banks, creating a level of friendship between two teams who were arguably the most bitter rivals in the State of Alabama at that time.
How did he do it? As he told Woodlawn head coach Tandy Gerelds at their first meeting, he wanted to tell the team about Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." That's what Hank did. He lifted up Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ drew the young men on that team to Him. Jesus Christ brought peace into the hearts of those young men, and the change they experienced demonstrated how to have peace to those around them.
Jesus Christ, and He alone, is the source of true peace. Everyone has a desire for peace, but there are many who fail to find it. The reason is that they search everywhere but the right place. The things that the world tells them give peace only lead to destruction. The world's route to "peace" often leads to hatred and violence. It doesn't take a genius to look around at our world and see that.
The children of God are to be peacemakers. We know something by experience that many of the people around us are completely unfamiliar with. We know the secret to true peace. The thing is, it's our job to make sure that the secret gets out. We as Christians know something that can change the world. Not only that, but we have been commanded to share that knowledge.
Are you a peacemaker? As unbelievable as it might seem, to be one is a simple thing. All you have to do is share Jesus. Tell people that He's the answer to the longing in their souls. Tell them that He is the source of the peace they've searched for. As shown near the end of Woodlawn, there is One Way. That way is Jesus Christ.
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