Rated PG-13 for accident images and thematic material Movie Run Time - 106 mins
COULD YOU FORGIVE?
WOULD YOU?
In the face of tragedy, Chris Williams made the most important decision of his life. On a cold night in 2007, a devoted father of four and a seventeen-year-old drunk driver both received life sentences. In one violent, devasting instant, each faced a drastically different future. But as Chris Williams sat in his demolished vehicle, realizing that his wife, unborn baby, nine-year-old daughter, and eleven-year-old son had just been killed, he committed to do something extraordinary: he would forgive. Chris Williams' story is the cinematic tale of how someone can forgive despite the desire for revenge that surfaces within the dark corners of the human heart--showing the world that hope, love and forgiveness can overcome all when you just let go.
My Thoughts
If you've ever been forgiven or had the opportunity to forgive, you already know the power that lies behind that act. As Christians we know that it is required of us. Christ forgave us and we are required to forgive others.
The hard part is overcoming every desire of the flesh to lash out and seek retribution. That's just where Chris Williams found himself. His whole world as he knew it had been shattered by a senseless act. Chris knew that he needed to forgive just as he had been forgiven. But all around him the cry for justice was rising up. From family, from friends, and even from circumstances such as mounting hospital bills the need to seek retribution resounded over and over again.
But a still small voice cried out, "Let it go."
I will admit that this story begins slow as it sets the stage for the trial. There are many flash-backs and angst ridden scenes but if you will hang with it you won't regret it. You need the background information to understand all that is going on but the real meat of the movie begins as the trial winds down. There are three pivotal points that are still resonating with me.
The first is the scene with the judge. The judge asks Chris if he believes the defendant should be tried as an adult or a juvenile. Chris speaks truth when he says that he and the defendant have already been given a life sentence no matter which way the judge decides to rule.
The second scene is the one where Chris shares with his grieving and angry sons about a past incident that changed his life and led him to his ability to forgive.
The final scene is perhaps my favorite of the three. Chris is a minister and we get to see him give a sermon talking not only about his own family but about the prodigal son and how it relates. It will forever change the way I think about that story.
I would highly recommend this movie to everyone (with the exception of small children). I believe it will help you look at the act of forgiveness as more than a requirement. It will allow you to see it as the first step in healing and becoming whole again.
Finally . . . let me leave you with a very powerful song and video. It is called Rise & Fall and it is from the soundtrack from Just Let Go. Enjoy!
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