Lost in Translation
I took some rare time last night to stop all the heavy duty spiritual warfare, prayer, praise, etc. and just watch a movie I like. This doesn’t happen a lot. I got snuggly under a blanket and my wife and I watched my favorite movie, “Lost in Translation.”
Watching it this time was interesting. I used to watch it annually – usually with girls I was dating. Definitely different this time. I noticed that the whole film is, really, about communication. And most of the film is about miscommunication – attempts to connect that just don’t happen. Communicating without listening, without really caring. Which brings us to the only authentic communication – between “Bob” and “Charlotte.” The first real encounter is when she sends some peanuts over to him at the bar. Simple, wordless, kind.
Soon after they go out for a night on the town in Tokyo with a bunch of locals. There is plenty of authentic communication here – most of through karaoke singing American rock and pop classics. What’s this really about?
Well, I went into prayer not long after the karaoke scene and, next time I opened my eyes, the film was about finished and “Bob” and “Charlotte” were saying goodbye.
To me, this film is really about Christ and the Church. The innovative boldness of Director and Screenwriter Sofia Coppola cast Scarlet Johansen as the Christ type. Bill Murray is the Church. Bill Murray is the Church – that sounds right, doesn’t it?
Bill Murray in the beginning of the film is snobby and a bit bewildered. Not so different from the Christian Church today. But through the constant compassion of the Christ type, he comes out of his shell and begins to live for more than himself and his small inner circle. In fact, he begins to live so much that he gets off track and has a love affair with a red haired lounge singer (temptation).
But the Christ character is there for him even after his transgression. And, of course, he leaves Tokyo a transformed man.
Newly married, I am discovering the importance of Paul’s quote from Ephesians 5, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her” (Ephesians 5: 25).
The goal of marriage is not to be right. The goal of marriage is not what I can get. The goal of marriage is to grow in patience, humility, servitude, and focused affection and love. It is to bring a sense of safety and comfort to the community that we belong to.
This requires a lot of work behind the scenes – again, a lot like filming a movie. Scheduling, clarity of roles, selflessness, focus – life is in action all the time. Are we really listening? Are we humbling ourselves and our opinions to the greater message of love?
I can say I am trying – and that’s more than before. For all of you who are committed to understanding God’s covenant with His creation through marriage – or desire it in their lives – let this be a prayer for all of us working together to see heaven and earth unite in the simple things:
“By my side,
You help me bend.
By my side,
You inspire action.
By my side,
You move my lips.
By my side,
You hold my hand.
By my side,
You keep me grateful.
By my side,
Your arms embrace –
I know you better than I ever have.
You and You alone.”
