Family First

It is always so interesting the things that make the mind go into overdrive. Sometimes it is the way the sunshine filters through the leaves as a summer breeze rustles them and flickers the changing light, and sometimes it is something as simple as a strain of soft music, and sometimes it is something as un-poetic as  a movie quote.

Last night a few of the guys and I watched the movie "The Patriot" with Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger. I wasn't really paying all that much attention to the beginning, as I have seen the movie before and I knew roughly what was happening. My attention was caught by a change in the sound volume right before the scene cut to the South Carolina assembly. The scene opens with an introduction of a colonel from the Continental Army who briefly explains the predicament of the Continental Army and the American war effort, concluding by asking for SC to pass a levy for an SC State Militia. When he finishes, a few of the assemblymen volley the debate back and forth for a moment. Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) stands and begins to advocate pacifism he finally says, "I will not fight, and because I won't, I will not cast a vote that will send others to fight in my stead." The Colonel immediately challenges and asks, "And your principals?" To which Martin replies:

"I am a parent, I haven't got the luxury of principals!"

This line really struck me. At first I thought as many of the other characters did that Martin had been so scarred by his last encounter with warfare that he simply sought an excuse to not participate. However, upon more careful consideration I realized  a part of the equation that I was missing--though it is blindingly obvious throughout the rest of the movie. Martin's first responsibility was to his family. He valued the unity and the safety of his family above his own desire to have a free nation. He is the only parent left to his children and they are more important to him than his own peace of mind.

He eventually attacks the British after one of his sons has died at their hand and another is en route to be hanged. He rescues his captive son and takes the rest of his children to safety before he begins to fight. Throughout the movie he continues to emphasize the duty to family first and the cause second. Tragically I think that is something that has been lost in our culture.

The very first type of community that God created was family, even relationship with in the Trinity is defined in familial terms. Clearly family is important to our Lord.

I personally have been learning a lot about loving my family well and making sure that they come first. I am beginning to realize that without that support network life is just harder. I am by no means free from the cultural influence of individualism and the temptation to turn my back on my family as Gabriel does in the movie. The interesting thing that the movie shows (unique among it's fellows) is that Gabriel ends up regretting his abandonment of his family and admits his error to his father. But, I digress. I think that it is our responsibility as the upcoming generation to make family important again. Our parents' influence can only go so far in the upcoming years and decades; these next years belong to us. The way that we treat our parents and siblings now is indicative of how we will raise our families in the next years, and I for one want my family to be solid and strong, and for their commitment to be...Family First.