![]() ![]() Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations. Elsewhere, Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT) finds God directly addressing Jeremiah about his purpose: “ I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. For example, Psalm 138:8 (NLT) finds King David declaring how he trusts and knows that the Lord will direct His steps: “ The Lord will work out his plans for my life - for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever ”. Not only are they failing to honour God by loving their neighbour ( Matthew 22:37-40 ), but they’re also ignoring such scripture which clearly indicates time and time again, that God does indeed have a plan and purpose for the individual, precious lives that He creates. Russell: “ It's wonderful to have faith, son, but let's not overdo it.”īoth Miss Leavey and Reverend Russell’s attitude toward Simon is certainly unbiblical. ![]() He's going to use me to carry out his plan” Russell: “ I'm glad that, um, that your faith, uh, helps you deal with your, um, you know, your condition.” I think God made me the way I am for a reason.” For both his Sunday School teacher Miss Leavey (Jan Hooks), and Reverend Russell (David Strathairn) deny that he is special, or that God even has a plan for his life: ![]() Dejected, Simon looks for affirmation from his church family, but finds none. So, along with the help of Joseph, he sets out to discover his purpose, trying his hand disastrously at baseball and finding that acting is certainly not in his repertoire. Fully aware that he’s the smallest baby ever delivered in the history of the town’s hospital, and that he was declared a miracle by the medical staff, the young boy can’t help but believe God must have a plan for his life – especially since many expected he wouldn’t survive. One of Simon Birch’s applaudable strengths is the relatable honesty with which director & screenwriter Mark Steven Johnson depicts Simon’s tireless, frustrating pursuit of uncovering God’s unique plan for his life. So, the two outsiders find acceptance in one another, and set out to aid the other in discovering the answers to their biggest questions: What is the identity of Joe’s biological father, & what is God’s plan for Simon? And Joseph, whilst he doesn’t struggle with a physical disability, is a child born out of wedlock and doesn’t know the identity of his father, which has proven to be a local scandal. Due to being born with dwarfism, Simon is consistently undervalued, undermined, and verbally abused by his own family and townspeople. ![]() Set in a beautiful, New-England town throughout the 1950s and 60s, Simon Birch introduces us to best friends Simon ( Ian Michael Smith) & Joseph (Joseph Mazzello) – two young, well-intentioned outsiders who find comfort in one another’s friendship. It’s a far cry from anything Mickey Mouse and his friends ever had to face, that’s for certain, but these are some of Simon Birch’s unique strengths like the titular character, there’s more to this film than initially meets the eye. Whilst the film is an overly sentimental crowd-pleaser (reinforced by a typically sweeping orchestral score and tear-jerking plot developments), it’s also concerned with unusually weighty, even lofty themes such as death, spirituality, and complicated family dynamics. Loosely adapted from John Irving’s 1989 novel A Prayer for Owen Meany, Simon Birch is certainly an odd fit in the Disney catalogue. Information about the film’s content from a Christian perspective is available from Christian Spotlight on Entertainment’s website: Viewer discretion is also advised – Simon Birch is rated ‘PG’. Please note: The following text contains spoilers. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |