The Petty and The Great

This is not the type of article that belongs to Sandals and a Stick. The original concept was designed as a place to write about seeing the Spirit of God in everyday life. Articles would include the aha moments of realization, encouragement, and enlightenment. 

If you’ve been around a while, you know that I draw on media of many types that serve those previously mentioned goals. Today, this inspiration (well, my word) originates within a movie made twenty-five years ago called The Contender.

The cast is full, experienced, and superbly balanced with a complement of extraordinary actors. I will admit that I feel a little bit sorry for Gary Oldman.

The movie was chosen for several reasons.

• 2 Oscar Nominations
• Jeff Bridges
• It’s identified as a thriller
• The hook reads: “A vice presidential nominee refuses to testify at her confirmation hearing after an adversary smears her with a college incident.”

As I looked into things a little deeper, I also noticed that it seriously explores the double standard of men vs. women, which is still relevant today.

After watching, my thoughts centered around,

• Political backroom dealing.
• Innuendo offered as truth.
• Smiles that hide backstabbing
• Right versus wrong.
• Equality
• The Congressional Hearing.
• Agendas at any cost.
• Principles.
• And, a determination that I would never run for office.

The movie ends in triumph. Well, I would find it so.

Jeff Bridges (The President) addresses Congress, and his message is powerful. It’s this message I would want to hear from any president. It’s this message I would expect from any president. And, yes, I know this is just a movie.

But this hero stands with the best of us. All of us. He believes in a government which, in the movie, is referred to as the Chapel of Democracy. There are divisive political issues, certainly. But the bottom line favors democracy itself, no matter the issue or the opinion.

I’ve always thought that is what our shared goal is – or should be. We can disagree on so many things, but in the end, the role of government is to sort through the problems and present a solution that serves the majority of the American people. It will never work completely for each individual, but diplomacy and compromise should reach a place that, for now, most people can accept even if reluctantly.

Sometimes you win a little. Sometimes you lose a little. (As I typed these words, I noticed a familiarity recognized as a melody from another film, Beaches with Bette Midler. See “The Glory of Love” video or the lyrics link and decide if this song applies to our discussion today.)

So, back to this hero, Jeff Bridges.

A few quotes:

“Napoleon once said, when asked to explain the lack of great statesmen in the world, that "to get power you need to display absolute pettiness; to exercise power you need to show true greatness." Such pettiness and such greatness are rarely found in one person.

“For ladies and gentlemen of this Congress, it pains my soul to tell you that you have brought blood and shame under this great dome. Your leadership has raised the stakes of hate to a level where we can no longer separate the demagogue from the truly inspired.

“And believe this, there are traitors among us. And I'm not talking about those of you who sided against your Party leadership. I'm talking about those of you who were patriots to your Party but traitors to the necessary end result -- that of righteousness, the truth, the concept of making the American dream blind to gender.”

Well, maybe you’d like to watch Jeff Bridges address Congress with this link. I especially like how he calls for accountability using a live confirmation vote. Just sayin’.

And now, I wonder where we went wrong. This is probably the real point here. And just perhaps, the very first sentence in this article is incorrect.

There is something in my soul that is straining to find release. There is something in my soul that is striking a flint looking for a spark. There is something. Something that needs just a little bit of fuel to become a flame. But that flame won’t be satisfied to hold its own with gentle breezes. That flame needs to become a bonfire. That flame needs to broker a new day of peace and love - with and for others. It needs to withstand hurricane-force winds. And I think that is the Spirit of God.

This movie was one of many catalysts that have been generating internal conversations lately. I have been reluctant to publish this piece. I have fought those nudges and whispers. Those ask, "Who am I? What do I have to say, to offer? " And you know what? I have no answer to those questions.

But I will not allow those admonitions to quench a flame that is now beginning to flicker.