Doubt

This is a transcript excerpt taken from one of the opening scenes of “Doubt” – the Movie, © 2008 Miramax Films. and based upon stage and screen play, by John Patrick Shanley. I was so moved by the content of it, I had to share it as my second installment in this blogspot.

Sermon in movie delivered by Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman’s character, “Father Flynn.”

“What do you do when you’re not sure?”

“When President Kennedy was assassinated (just as on the tragic date of 9/11)*, who among us did not experience the most profound disorientation . . . . despair? Which way? . . .What now? What do I say to my kids? What do I tell myself? There was a time of people sitting together . . . bound together by a common feeling of hopelessness. But think of that . . . your bond with your fellow being was your despair. It was a public experience – it was awful! But we were in it together. How much worse is it then for the lone man – the lone woman – stricken by a private calamity? . . . “No one knows I’m sick.” . . . “No one knows I’ve lost my last real friend.” . . . “No one knows I’ve done something wrong.” Imagine the isolation. You see the world as through a window: On one side of the glass – happy, untroubled people, and on the other side . . . you.”

“I want to tell you a story: A cargo ship sank one night. It caught fire and went down. And only this one sailor survived. He found a lifeboat, rigged a sail and, being of a nautical discipline, turned his eyes to the heavens and read the stars. He set a course for his home and, exhausted, fell asleep. Clouds rolled in, and for the next twenty nights, he could no longer see the stars. He thought he was on course, but there was no way to be certain. And as the days rolled on, and the sailor wasted away, he began to have doubts. Had he set his course right? Was he still going on towards his home, or was he horribly lost and doomed to a terrible death? No way to know . . . The message of the constellations . . . had he imagined it because of his desperate circumstance, or had he seen truth once and now had to hold on to it without further reassurance? And I want to say to you . . . . doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty. When you are lost, you are NOT alone.”

*(Parenthetic material added as modern day reference only, and is obviously not a part of the original script.)

Back to Bruce talking now . . . .

The themes of this script obviously possess a depth which may not be captured at first-read. I must admit, I may be stretching the meaning a bit here for sake of application, but these are simply the things I thought about as I viewed the scene and typed the transcript. Though the “theology” of the content of this movie excerpt may be challenged by some, many of the thoughts definitely carry some validity. As believers, we know we are NEVER truly alone. We possess the Holy Spirit of God. However, have you not ever felt lost at times? Not eternally lost, but lost in your direction? Even lost in your sin? Though in your mind you know the debt has been paid . . . in your flesh, you remain in despair for a time. We have been instructed not to doubt, but to believe, but we are indeed fallible beings. Do you ever have doubts? Doubts about what you believe? Doubts about crucial decisions? Certainly, we have been encouraged in scripture to remain close to the Good Shepherd, and that His Spirit will indeed graciously provide us comfort. But I believe it is in community and pure fellowship with one another that we have also been given further opportunity for peace and comfort. To know that others face our same struggles of doubt and uncertainty does not solve our immediate problem or meet our present need. However, it is of a certainty, that it can often bring comfort, while helping to point us in the proper direction, which is to our heavenly Father. The knowledge of this, combined with actual fellowship and wise counsel of friends can bring indescribable joy!

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galations 6:2 – KJV)