A few years ago I read a book. I can't remember how I found it, if it was a friend that passed it along or if I just happened to stumble upon it, but either way at the time I had no idea the impact it would have on my life (and numerous other lives as well). What I do remember is how refreshing I found it. In a world full of fluffy religious books, this one was honest, personal, and full of relatable experiences. The book was Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality...I was instantly drawn into Donald Miller's world and have been captivated by his ability to tell a beautiful story ever since.
A couple of years ago I heard the book was being made into a movie. Little did I know that by the time I heard about it, it was almost too late. I remember reading on Don's blog that the movie wasn't going to be made because of funding issues and then finding the Kickstarter website started by a couple of guys trying to save it. Money was tight but I felt so strongly about getting this story told that I knew I had to get involved. So I donated, and after a month of other people like me chipping in, the movie was saved. Since then I have watched (and read about) the tireless amount of dedication and hard work it took to get this wonderful book turned into a story worthy of its big screen debut. As the release date approached I grew more and more excited about this fan-funded project. I was so proud to be involved with making something happen that can potentially change people's lives. But I will admit I was a little nervous to see how it would be received by people who hadn't been a part of this journey. I knew that regardless of what other people thought or said, I still had to see it for myself.
Last night I did just that, and I was certainly not disappointed. A movie about a guy coming to grips with a faith he tried so hard to deny. It was funny, poignant, relatable, and unabashedly honest. Everything I loved so much about the book made it into the somewhat fictionalized version on the screen. I laughed at the portrayal of a stereotypical Texan out of his comfort zone and cried at the very moving conversation in the confession booth. For me the confession scene is what the whole movie was all about. It put into words better than I can how real it is to struggle with and accept something you don't always understand.
As a Christian who has struggled with her faith through the years, there was so much I could relate to. The desire to fit in, the yearning to find the place you belong, and the shame of trying to hide who you are. I've been there, and even though I haven't done exactly the same things, I am guilty of trying to be someone I'm not. It's ok to struggle. It's ok to want to fit in. And it's also ok to be a Christian who struggles and wants to fit in.
I hope this movie can speak to people the way the book spoke to me all those years ago. I hope that people see it as something other than a Christian film or a movie about God. I hope that it helps people write new stories full of love and forgiveness.
I am so privileged to have it as part of my story.
"Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something, before you can love it yourself."
www.bluelikejazzthemovie.com
