Today i watched 2 sad shows.
There is an ongoing film fest going ard featuring more than 30 worldwode films frm plcs like Iran, Belgium, Vietnam etc.
I watched this German film entitled "The 9th Day". Im really glad i watched it, even though it made me sad, coz it made me thank God for what i have.
9th Day: It's about the Jewish holocaust. A priest (Krumer) is called out of his concentration camp to the German headquarters. He is 'on leave' (free to return to his family) for 9 days. What the Germans want him to do is to do a 'Judas'- condemn the bishop and claim that the Catholic church supports Hitler and his race ideology. It sounds simple but there is a running ideology i shall call the 'Judas' ideology. The German officer tries to put doubt in Krumer's faith by advocating that Judas's role in God's plan of salvation was as impt, if not more than Jesus. Jesus, he argues, needed Judas to complete God's plan. In the officer's words:
'Judas paved the way for the plan of salvation'
Judas was seen as a hero, a revolutionary man whom God had a mission for- to crucify Jesus n hence carry out salvation successfully.
While Krumer never bought the ideology, he was almost killed (his family too) for refusing to be 'Judas'. Eventually he was sent back to the concentration camp where he survived to write a book entitled 'The 9th Day'...
so it was a true story... these war films never fail to wake me up from my shallow everyday existence to recognise the value of life and the reality of suffering and pain. The torture, the hunger and stark thirst experienced in the show would prob haunt me for days... but i dun regret watching this show. I've been too happy and oblivious to the world ard me to notice the things that are truly impt in life. I have been distracted by wants and self-seeking pleasures to care for the reality of this world-
this show reminded me that even as i sit here typing on a laptop in my own room, comfortable and well-fed, many others out there are homeless, hungry, poor, cold, sick, facing war or persecution. Juz because im oblivious to such reality does not erase the truth. How cld i be so caught up in the trivialities of everyday life n forget what LIFE is all about?
Life is def more than juz deciding what to eat n wear, what to watch n do, laughing n hanging out n having a great time... i need to rem that life is about joy n sorrow, plenty n want, suffering n pleasure. How can i truly know the meaning of joy unless i have tasted sorrow? Similarly, i muz remember that i muz never take God's blessings for granted. The home, sch, family, food and health i have is not mine per se but from God. The Lord gives n the Lord takes...
i feel so shallow, caught up in what to eat, what to buy, what to watch... i forgot life was more than that. It was remembering what my values in life are n to hold them close, less i shd be persecuted one day n asked to be a Judas. I wldnt want to be caught unawares, thinking that a safe home, $ n family will and shd always be there for me...
When i got home frm the film, i watched a serial drama on kidney patients. The guy in it died in the end (it was the last episode) n he willed his organs to 3 patients, saving them. it was so touching, i cldnt help but tear...
sigh... it is only in moments like this that i realise the value of life, such a precious gift yet i have always taken it for granted n even thot o ending it... how cld i? i rem someone once said- it is better to be in pain than to die, because pain reminds us that we are still alive- life is still in us and that life itself is a miracle and a hope...hmmm
dear God, im so sorry for taking the things u've blessed me with for granted. pls help me love the pple ard me with the love u have for me n pls hep me never to forget what really matters in life.
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