I’ve spent the last few weeks thinking and bouncing ideas off of people – kind of taking inventory of what it is I believe in this life. Everything from relating to people on this Earth, to ethics, to love, up to and including God. The thing that I keep coming back to is a familiar movie. I’ve watched it many times before, but it wasn’t until I saw it sometime early July-ish that something caught my attention. I watched scenes play out following the life of Forrest Gump but whatever happened to him, in some way it always came back to his deepest love – a girl named Jenny. Here’s a little bit of dialogue from a particular scene that I can’t quite forget.
Forrest Gump: Will you marry me?
[Jenny turns and looks at him]
Forrest Gump: I’d make a good husband, Jenny.
Jenny Curran: You would, Forrest.
Forrest Gump: But you won’t marry me.
Jenny Curran: You don’t wanna marry me.
Forrest Gump: Why don’t you love me, Jenny? I’m not a smart man, but I know what love is.
I remember watching this and something in me felt this deep longing for that type of affection. Granted, the film is fictional and Gump is given the words of many brilliant writers, but the idea is one so extraordinary that it manages to get me every time. No matter what Jenny did, no matter where she went or who she was with or what damage she did to herself in the process, there was one thing in her life that remained the same – Forrest still loved her. She came from an abusive home life, ran off and ended up wrapped up with guy after guy, eventually ended up in prostitution and addicted to drugs…but after all this, all Forrest saw was the girl he met as a child. He didn’t look at her circumstances or actions (nor blame her for what she got hersef into by her own free will) but rather offered his love unconditionally. He found her in a strip club with men pawing at her and all he could do was try to rescue her.
Her response to all this is even more interesting. Up until the last quarter of the movie, she is either frustrated or merely tolerant of the protection and love he offers her. It isn’t until she’s tired and broken that she allows him to do what he’s always wanted – to love her.
Jenny Curran: Why are you so good to me?
Forrest Gump: You’re my girl!
Jenny Curran: [pause] I’ll always be your girl.
The female/chick/human side of me would only dare to hope to have that sort of love in this lifetime. Unconditional. Irrational. Completely unselfish. Far too many people only look for prospetive mates in regards to what that person can offer them. Then at the first sign of weakness or trouble, they’re done. Not worth their time. I’m not saying that we should just live our lives for ourselves and hope someone will put up with it. THAT would be irrational and selfish. But if both parties, whether friends or lovers, could adopt this way of loving this world would be such a better place. Forrest Gump had it right.
And the funny thing that I realized is that as much as I want this sort of thing from another human being, I already have it in God. Granted, I have trouble trusting it at times when the evidence of life points to the contrary. It’s hard to believe that God loves you completely and unconditionally when he allows pain and heartbreak to happen. It’s hard to trust that he doesn’t condemn you when the things you want most are taken away. I tend to think that it’s God judging me for the mistakes I make. He knows what I want, so he takes it from me as punishment. I’m told this isn’t the heart of God. I’m told (by brilliant people and scripture to back them up) that God is a God of Love. The kind of love that I, as a human, can equate to Forrest Gump love. All consuming, unconditional, and ever-present. As fallen people we really are so undeserving. We’re messed up and lost but the offer is still on the table. We’re all Jennys.
I wish I had a witty comment to close this thing out with. Really, it’s just a lot of pent up thoughts typed onto a screen for a few people to browse through. I hope it makes sense in the end. Or, perhaps this will do:
Forrest Gump: That’s all I have to say about that.
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Currently listening : Eyes Open By Snow Patrol Release date: 09 May, 2006 |
