When I watch a movie, I always want to relate and learn from it, and these 2 movies seemed as if screaming a lesson or inspiration at me, especially that they are both biographical (based on true stories). Although there are separate lessons I've learned from the individual movie, what I'm writing about now is how both stories relate to give me a more general conclusion.
Movie #1: Conviction
Betty Anne is a typical housewife with a brother Kenny who was wrongfully sentenced to lifetime imprisonment due to alleged murder and rape of a neighbor. The case happened in the 80's so the technology isn't much helpful yet and DNA testing has just been recently discovered. Betty Anne, in full trust that his brother would not be able to do such a crime in spite of his being rowdy, did everything she can to prove that it was a frame up. She appealed to higher courts but still the jury would decide that her brother is guilty. Not losing hope, she studied law in spite of her age and duties as a mother to her 2 kids, miraculously passed the licensure exam and re-investigated about the case herself as her brother's personal lawyer. It has been 16 years since the case was closed her search for evidences and witnesses to the original trial was like a roller coaster of hope. Her efforts came to fruition as the DNA test of the evidence proved that it wasn't her brother's identity at all. It was a dramatic ending to see her brother being released from the prison but after a regretful 16 years of wasted life. Then the movie flashes this before the credit lines:
Simon Northup is a free-born African-American in the 80's who was helplessly kidnapped along with his family and sold as slaves in Washington DC where slavery was still legal. My way of summary will not justify the hardships that he encountered for 12 years from different slave owners (so you better watch it yourself) but I'll attempt to describe how heart-crushing the injustice that he experienced was when I saw it. Being a slave is a terrible idea in itself and experiencing a life that is really not life at all is even unimaginable... working to death under the sun, abused by white people, lashed horribly at the back, be separated from the family, belittled in every way and be made to do things against your humanly righteous will. I'd rather die if I were in his shoes! As a slave, your owner can take anything away from you but Simon did not lose the very important thing he has left... HOPE. Eventually, he stayed alive until he met a white man who helped him get his documents proving that he's a freeman and another dramatic ending plays in the picture with Simon getting back to his old house with his long lost family. And before the credit lines roll, the movie informs us that:
Do you notice the similarities between the two movies? I'm sure you see that both Betty Anne and Solomon Northup had a struggle difficult to fight with (unless it's easy for you to be a slave or be convicted for no reason at all). But somehow, they managed to pass through the trial and ended up spending the rest of their lives serving and helping the people who are having the same struggle that they were able to overcome in the past!
It related to me so much as I have been going through really difficult/challenging times consecutively in my life and it's an inspiration to know that these tests can be my testimony and my mess be my ministry. So how do you really get from point A to point B?
Point A = your moment of difficulty
Point B = moment of being a testimony to others
Well the answer should be obvious. Keep the hope and endure Point A! What would've happened if Betty Anne did not pursue Law school? If Simon Northup chose to just embrace slavery, even death (which seems to be luxurious if you're a slave)? Nothing!
Your point A may be too hard to endure but remember that you have help in God! Who knows what ministry God can do through you because of your endurance? :)
When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. -James 1:2-4
