Have you ever heard someone say something and it really stuck with you? It’s as though those words implant themselves in your brain and swirl around for a bit, before finally circling their way down to your heart?
Well, that happened to me this weekend.
The week before the Coronavirus hit the “pause button” on life, several friends posted about a movie that was going to be in theaters for only two nights. It was a documentary about a missionary family who has spent the past 20+ years serving the people of Burma, as well as some additional time bringing food and medical aid to Iraq and Sudan. My friends were raving about the movie, but we were busy preparing for our teen drama production the following week, and I knew there was no way I could see it. Missionary movies are my jam, y’all! To say I was bummed is an understatement.
Fast forward six weeks, and I was thrilled to find out Lifeway was going to live-stream the movie on their Facebook page!
So, on Friday night I put our boys to bed a little early, grabbed a blanket and some tea, and sat down with my computer to watch “Free Burma Rangers.”
Wow.
If you know me, it is not often that I am speechless, but this movie left me without any words at all. Dave Eubanks has a unique calling from God as a missionary soldier, and he and his family live out every verse in the Bible about laying down your life for others in ways you and I cannot even begin to imagine.
This is not a great movie; It is a powerful movie. It is difficult to watch (definitely not recommended for children), and yet I could not turn away. It is both heart-wrenching and heart-warming, all at the same time. You may need some tissues.
And you may never be the same after you watch it.
I don’t want to share any spoilers, so that’s all I’m going to say about it. However, I did want to share a few quotes from the movie that impacted me and have been floating around in my head ever since.
(I actually typed these up in my Notes app as I watched because they hit me so strongly. I tried to dictate them as accurately as possible; any misquoting is completely unintentional and hopefully still conveys the same sentiment.)
1. “Go to the sound of the guns, go to the sound of need, and trust God to show you how to help.”
Wow. Am I the person who runs towards danger and need, or am I the one who runs away from it? Lord, help me trust You enough to run towards it.
2. “Vengeance looks a lot like justice, but it is driven by hate. They both start in the same place- an injustice occurs. However, one response is done in a spirit of love, the other a spirit of hate. It’s not our job to bring vengeance or justice… we are simply to obey Jesus (in a spirit of love).”
Think about that for awhile. When I watched Dave Eubank process this truth (God’s answer to his prayer for what clearly seemed like justice but in reality was vengeance) and then willingly submit, I was floored. Lord, help me listen and obey like that.
3. “Be bold in the things of Jesus and humble in the things of yourself.”
I think I often get this backwards. Lord, change me!
4. “And so I prayed: Lord, what do I do, no matter what it costs?”
And in this moment, what God was asking would cost him everything. Yet, this was his prayer. Lord, help me be that faithful!
5. “When bad things happen, I dare not complain. I believe where there is suffering, God is there. He will show us the way to go.”
This quote was actually from one of Dave’s fellow Burma Rangers, his right-hand man and close friend. Lord, help me have eyes to see You in the midst of suffering. Help me look for You instead of complaining.
6. “Surrendering is saying YES… saying yes to all the good things God wants for you…”
(…even, and especially, when they look different than what you expect). YES!! THIS!!
So often we think of surrendering as giving something up. How willing would we be to loosen our grip and let go if we realized that in saying “no” to ourselves, we are really saying “yes” to God’s best? Lord, help me surrender my desires and say “Yes!” to all you have for me!
This last point is a recurring theme for me lately, so you’ll probably be hearing about it quite a bit. But for now, I wanted to share these thoughts with you and encourage you to watch “Free Burma Rangers” if you get a chance. It is streaming right now HERE for free.
If you watch it, let me know what you think!
What are some movies or quotes that have made an impact on you? I’d love for you to share them!
Wow, Kelly. I’m not sure I’m brave enough to watch the movie, much less emulate this guy. That quote about vengeance couldn’t possibly be more germane to my thoughts today. (or Tito, or Michael…) Jokes aside, wow.
It is very different from most films of its kind, as he is a missionary soldier (which in itself is unique). That particular quote was following a rescue they made in Iraq in which a family they had just visited was blown up by ISIS explosives right before their eyes. As they attempted to rescue the wounded survivors, one of his rangers sacrificed himself and was shot to death by ISIS in order to get the rest of them out of danger. Dave’s revelation, which was the basis for that quote, did not change his actions. He continued to defend the innocent and even kill ISIS attackers when necessary. But he did so out of love and protection for the people he was defending, not out of vengeance. I’m not sure many of us can emulate his conviction or his faith! But it’s inspiring and thought-provoking for sure.