December 25 is a date that I’ve looked forward to for quite some time. Yes, of course that’s Christmas, but it is also the day the movie “”Unbroken” is being released. The movie is based on the best selling book of the same title. The story follows the true story of Louis Zamperini who survived a series of remarkable World War 2 adventures. It is an incredible story. When I read the book two years ago I literally could not put it down. It is one of the top three books in my own list of all time. Get it. Read it. Do it NOW.
But once again Hollywood is messing things up. No, I’ve not seen the movie. But what I have seen is the promotional material. What really struck me was to discover that to promote the movie there is a special website called iamunbroken.com where people are encouraged to share their stories of bravery and courage. Now, I admire those attributes as well as anyone but to promote that site is to miss the general theme of the book. Zamperini did not remain unbroken.
The entire point of the book is that, in spite of the title, Zamperini became BROKEN. Yes, he withstood heartache and torture. He survived. But the real challenges came later in life as he struggled with hatred, anger and bitterness. Those feelings nearly killed him. But he became broken. In his brokenness he turned to God. It was only when he “broke” that he was set free. Not knowing what else to do he turned everything over to God. To remain unbroken at that point in his life would mean to attempt the impossible task of trying to shoulder all of that hurt and heartache in his own strength. But his entire life changed for the better when he broke and turned to God.
Stop trying to shoulder all the hurt and despair on your own. In spite of what the promotional website materials suggest, you cannot remain unbroken and live a fulfilled life. Take your stuff and give it to God.
Read the book. On Christmas go and see the movie. But whatever you do, refuse to believe that the way to survive and thrive is to remain unbroken. Oddly the way to wholeness is to become broken and to turn to God. Only then will you know true happiness.
Does this post resonate with how you read the book?
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