Monday, August 16, 2010

SIGNIFICANCE

084 – AUGUST 2010

The movie, Gangs of New York, is set in a small New York city neighborhood in the mid 1800’s. The young city is already filled with corruption and gangs have begun to establish their little territorial kingdoms. You watch the turmoils and the interactions of the 2 rival gang leaders as they protect their turf. You are drawn into their world as they suffer defeats and celebrate victories. You become interested in all the deep emotions, conflicts, and agonies of their lives.

There is a rather vexing scene at the end of the movie. The 2 opposing gang leaders die and are buried side by side. The camera lingers on this cemetery scene … the graveyard in the foreground with the NYC skyline across the Hudson River and looming in the distance. You watch the graveyard and the skyline “time lapse” from 1863 to 2002.
Your mind races as you compare the changing skyline to the graves that become overgrown with grass and weeds.
And you listen intently to the final line of the movie;
“For the rest of time, it would be like no one ever knew he was ever here.”
In the vast reach of the globe and in relation to the world’s past, present, and future - the lives in a small NYC neighborhood for 20 years becomes insubstantial.

Job 21:18 “They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.”

1. There is a haunting truth to the ending of this movie – my life is insignificant!
In the scope of things, I am teeny weeny. Consider the countries, the cultures, and the billions of people on this earth. Add to that vast mix the years of history and the years yet to come and you realize how trifling your little kingdom is. This discovery should help me to limit the battles that I engage in. and realize that most things just do not matter.
2. Contrarily, a different thought arises - my life is significant!
In the scope of things, I am bigsy wigsy. I cannot change the world but I can change the world … for someone. I have great hope. A strong sense of eternity insists that what I do or say may have an influence on others. And each person that I impart something to can pass it on, etc., etc.
Therefore, think about this, our lives will produce an eternal trickle effect that will affect others long after we have died. So, we need to be careful what we impart to others.

1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love”


Note: Gangs of New York is an “R” rated movie. In an attempt to portray the reality of NYC in the mid 1800’s, the directors/producers used very vulgar and implicit scenes. I would not suggest that you rent this movie.
However, you can view the final 1 minute scene on You tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-8Lu7MRjQs