Mr. Holland's Surprise

      There's a wonderful scene in the movie, "Mr. Holland's Opus."

    

      Mr. Holland’s wife reveals a secret to her husband; hoping against hope that the information will be well-received. The two words might easily have filled volumes.

     “I’m pregnant.”

     Well friends, our hero didn’t respond as a hero should.

     “Whoa!” (Glenn shook his head, and seemed to sink deep into his easy chair.)

     Iris was mortified with her husband’s response; an answer that was all too expected. They had planned to wait to have children. The money was just too “tight” at the time. The salary of a high school music teacher left them with more month than money.

     Well, at this point Iris sensed the early throes of depression covering her like a blanket. Rejected and Dejected, she hid her face from her husband.

     Glenn realized his mistake, and tried to make it up to her. His thoughts raced, and he urged himself to “think quickly.” What could he say?

     He began with a word picture. “Iris, let me try to explain it to you. When I was younger, I came across the music of Cole Porter. Well, I put the record on, and I listened to it, and it didn’t make any sense to me. But something drew me in, and I played it… again, and again. ‘Til I was not only comfortable with it; I liked it!”

     His next phrase turned night into day. “I think that’s how it is with this baby.”

     Iris beamed! Her voice was as radiant as her face.

    “If that’s a lie, it’s the most beautiful lie you ever told!”

     I think that’s how it must be with God’s calling in our lives. “It” can come at any time, and often requires a sudden turn, or change in direction. So much like Jonah. “And the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.” (Jonah 3:1, KJV)

     Evidently Jonah took the initial news a lot like Glenn Holland did, or perhaps vice versa. “It hit like a ton of bricks.” And the weight of those bricks was almost tangible.

     Most of us have been there; (at least those of us who strive for the perfect will of God in our lives.) God never promised the Mission would be easy. “If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.”

     Like Jonah (or Glenn) we may initially assign the wrong title to The Will of God. The Father may be saying, “Maranatha,” but all we’re hearing is “Anathema.” And it may take some time to acclimate to The Will of God in our lives.

     May the Source of Our Call and The Creator of Mission make us ever mindful of our tasks. And may we, like Jonah, distinguish His Voice from our own.

     Glenn and Iris named their son… Cole.

 

By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "Unconventional Devotions" Copyright 2005