My wife and Grace Hill Media gave me one of the best birthdays I've had in quite awhile. It was a great way to mark 62 years. Grace Hill Media invited pastors from the area to a premiere screening of the movie 42, the story of Jackie Robinson. It will open in theaters on April 12.It was an incredible movie. It was obviously written and directed by people who want this story of courage and faith to be told. For themovie is filled with compassion, pathos, laughter, intrigue and a sense of a mission. I tis not overbearing or preachy but addresses the issue of racism and breaking the color barrier head on with humility and courage.
I really appreciated the role faith played in the life of Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson. While it was overly played up or presented in a sappy self pious manner, it came off as being something true and genuine aobut both of these men. It was part of the fabric of their bery being.
One of the reasons this movie was so meaningful for me, is the scene with Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson. One of my old friends and a member of my home church was Preacher Roe. Preacher Roe began his career with the St. Louis Cardinals but later became a part of the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was part of the team when Jackie became the first black major league player.
In a conversation we had, Preacher Roe described that moment when Pee Wee Reese walked over and put his arm around Jackie as he was being booed and called all sorts of dispicable names. It was exactly as I imagined it in my mind when Preacher was telling the story. He told me that Pee Wee and Jackie became close friends.
The movie challenges us to continue to live their legacy today. Racism isn't over. It's still prevelent. We don't use that same language we used back then. Things have gotten better, a lot better, but even that is not enough. I dream for the day when no one will be thought less of because of the color of their skin, their nationality or their gender. I believe that world IS possible through the love of God in Christ. In the movie, Branch Rickey was talking to another General Manager and said something to the effect that God told us to "Love our neighbors as ourselves" eight different times in the Bible. It's the thing God told us to do the most, so it must be important. It will take that kind of love to get us closer. And it was that kind of love, put into action, which was portrayed in this movie.
