Over the weekend I saw the film, A Man Called Otto. Based on the novel by Fredrik Backman, it is the story of how a man embittered by the death of his wife heals from his inward-looking anger and becomes transformed into a man who cares for others. Although God is never directly mentioned, one can see the power of the Spirit as Otto first ends up caring for a stray cat and then for old estranged friends and newcomers to his neighborhood.
It is a somber film with moments of laughter and comedic justice, reflecting, in many ways, how we live. For many of us, life is somber, with pain and loss, but we have the opportunity to turn our losses into new ways of living. The question for us is how we decide to do just that.
We read a lot about depression, heightened by the isolation of the pandemic. Coming out of the losses resulting from the pandemic, like Otto/Ove, we need to move beyond being focused only on ourselves and realize that meaning, true meaning, in life, comes from being open to others and caring for them. It’s an old truth, yes, but a truth nonetheless.
Prayer for the Day
Give us grace, we pray, to be like true friends,
Healing each other’s hurts and bearing each other’s pain;
Give us imagination, we pray, to look beyond the limits
We often set for ourselves, thinking nothing can help’
Give us strength, we pray, to live each day with courage and hope,
Moving into your future with the promise of true life,
We ask this in the name of him who is our true friend,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen
Thoughts for the Day
There are only four kinds of people in this world. Those who have been caregivers. Those who are currently caregivers. Those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver.
- Rosalyn Carter, former First Lady
Being loved deeply by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
- Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher (6th-5th century BCE)
So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap in due season. So then, whenever we have the opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.
- Paul, Letter to the Galatians 6: 9-10