Playing the Movie Forward
Just when I think I've heard everything, the phone rings and there's another new episode in someone's life.
My role in Care Ministries at Eagle Brook provides me with a front row seat in people's lives. This past week saw a variety of meetings with individuals and couples who were in some sort of a predicament. Their pain was big enough for them to finally call for help and to come in and meet with a pastor.
A wife called in tremendous frustration and hurt. Her husband of only eight months admitted to an affair. There are already kids present in their family, with another one on the way. They came in together to visit and talk about which way to go.
The pain in both of them filled the room. His head was down in embarrassment and shame. She sat with her arms crossed; it was clear she was on the fence of which way to go from here.
As I looked at them, and particularly at him, I wondered if he knew at the time of the fling that he'd eventually be sitting here with a pastor and his wife, in this mess, in this pain, and on the verge of losing it all.
One of my favorite authors, Dr. Henry Cloud says it best in his book "9 Things You Simply Must Do." He challenges readers to play the movie forward: "Any one thing you do is only a scene in a larger movie. To understand that action, you have to play it out all the way to the end of the movie."
So you're interested in someone at work. Maybe your heart is going pitter-patter, and you think it's all innocent. Play the movie forward. Go to the scene where this could lead if corrective action is not taken. Watch with your eyes wide open, the look on your spouse's face when they hear of your actions. Witness the pain and tears when your kids find out. Fast-forward to the holidays where you're relegated to a few hours of visitation.
Something tells me he wasn't thinking of that at the heated time. People typically don't.
I've just brought you to the front row of this real-life encounter. The potentially good news is that they can end this heart-wrenching scene and begin writing the script to a new future. It can be done, I've seen it. God can do that. He can bring about forgiveness, healing, reconciliation and restoration. He's still in the business of giving us hope.
Are you starting a stroll down the wrong path? Play the movie forward. Pause and see where this is going. Hit the brakes, and make a corrective move. Stop the scene today so you can prevent future episodes of failure and pain.
