Edward, Jacob or Jesus
by Fay Barlow
(lexington, sc)
My husband and I went to see Twilight with our son this summer when it hit the dollar theater. He had already seen the movie with his friend and wanted me and his dad to see what all the hoopla was about.
I was not impressed with it. There was a lot of talking going on, little to no sunlight and generally very unrealistic in my viewpoint.
When New Moon became the talk of every town in the world, my son made his plans to see this latest installment with his friend and I graciously agreed to accompany them.
I have been accused of being overly analytical by my family at times and I accept that about myself, but as I watched this next chapter unfold in the saga, I saw so many things wrong with this movie. I could have had a long list written down before young Jacob took off his shirt (the first time). I understand that it is a movie and it is about entertainment but I also understand what it is like to be a teenage girl. I remember how movies and music influenced me in my generation. We didn’t have the Edwards and Jacobs to pine over but we had our own version of the perfect guy who said all the right things and looked the picture of beauty.
And like my past, the young girls of this era desperately want to be loved. And it is the mesmerizing, smooth talking, bare chested guy who can throw a girls head into an unrealistic reality.
When we came out of the movie, there was a line of people anxiously awaiting their turn to experience everlasting love, or at least the Hollywood glamorized version of such. There were a few guys in the line who wanted, like my son, to see the action of the film along with the parallels of the book manifested on the big screen, but for the most part, the female species was the dominating audience.
Every age was represented; every stereotype, every body type and every heart that secretly wants to find a love that reaches beyond the borders of time, space and fantasy. After all, we are talking about a love triangle in the form of a human girl a vampire and a werewolf. Ahhh, how our culture and our own minds will accept any form of “happily ever after”.
I believe the long lines, the generational diversity of women and the need to find someone to fight for her, speaks volumes of the longing in our hearts. We all want someone who will never leave us or forsake us. We are that teenage girl yearning for a strong man to protect us. We want someone willing to sacrifice all for our good.
The sad thing is that there IS such a man but we do not esteem him worthy. We have believed a lie, shrouding itself as a dream, that a “man” can make us happy, worthy, even fulfilled. So we daydream about that mysterious stranger that can make butterflies dance within us. We look at every man as “the one” that may be the one, who completes us. We re-arrange our lives for a chance at love and we give ourselves away for a Hollywood moment that is not based in reality.
Jesus said that He would never leave us or forsake us. He is the picture of beauty and constancy. He is the protector that never considers himself. He is the one that wants the absolute best for us.
No he is not the man that we should look to marry. He is the man that we should strive to love so He can reveal to us the truth about love and the humanity of men. He will never cause us to be in a state of depression or isolation. He will never tell us one thing, but selfishly do something different.
Some say, Yes, Jesus is all we need. I say, Yes we need Him, because only He can redeem us and make us worthy because only He created us for Himself. But I also say, No, He is not all we need. We need love, we need companionship and we need a human protector and lover. But our example should be of one that resembles our first love, Jesus, with like qualities and values.
It should not be someone who only tickles our ears with smooth words and brightens our eyes with slick abs. And it should never be anyone that causes us to withdraw from the world in such a way that may cause harm to ourselves. The depth of love is not determined by the depth of depression you put yourself into. Shame on Hollywood for suggesting that true love can be found in deep depression and suicidal talk.
If Bella, the deeply depressed, sunlight starved and borderline suicidal heroin of the movie, were a real girl, which I dare say, there are many like her, were someone I knew and loved, I’d suggest a few things to her. And please understand that I will only suggest the things that I have taken into my own heart and worked out into my own life.
First, move to a place where the sun shines and you can soak in a bit of vitamin D.
Second, love is not measured by obstacles, danger and strife and it is certainly not measured by the amount of time you sit in a chair and stare out a window.
Third, being in love is great, but it is not the purpose of this life, nor does it remain the same throughout life and running from one man to another will not fulfill a longing inside of you.
Fourth, let’s sit down, have some coffee and work through your own love issues before you go pawning them off on someone else to fix.
And last, I’d introduce her to the only man who can truly love her and teach her the reality of loving others.
Jesus.
