Greater: Movie Rant

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

1 John 4:4

Welcome back, readers!

I've recently been interested in movies after putting the kids to bed these days. Mostly, I've been watching light-hearted, feel-good stuff that I missed out on when I was younger such as Big, How to Lose a Guy in 10 days, Sing! (I liked that the porcupine is named Ash), 12 Angry Men (ok, this one's not that light-hearted).

However, a film that really stuck with me is Greater:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx3AwYsZ9Yk

It tells the story of Brandon Burlsworth, a walk-on football player at the University of Arkansas and his untimely and tragic death. A major thread of the movie is his brother Marty’s struggle: Why would God allow a righteous man like my brother to die like that?

I'm reminded of the story of Job and how he also experienced tragedy and loss. Now what's interesting to me about Job is that at the beginning of the book, we know the reason why the bad things happen: Satan asks God if he can test Job's faith, and God allows it. But when Job seeks an explanation for his experiences, God never gives Job that explanation. He more or less says "I am God".

The movie reminds me of Job because another theme repeated throughout the movie is this idea that we can only see what's in front of us. Brandon plays the offensive line, and in one of the scenes, his teammate is getting frustrated and Brandon encourages him that as linemen, they can only see the people in front of them that they are blocking, but the coaching staff are up in the stands and can see the entire game. So all they can do is trust the coaches and do what they say.

This idea repeats all the way up to the end of the movie, when Marty inevitably accepts that he can only see so much while God has the greater? picture. And you know what? Had Brandon lived, I probably would have never heard of him. But because he passed away, his life was made into a film and I was able to learn about his story.

While not all deaths result in an inspiring movie, but it makes one consider how small we are compared to God who is greater. As it was written on Brandon's tombstone:

"Our loss is great, but God is greater"