I first saw the movie ‘The Game’ when it came out in 1997, but there wasn’t much to choose from at the video store tonight so I picked it up again. Michael Douglas plays a character name Nicholas Van Orten, an investment banker who has grown up to be rich, cut-throat, self-absorded, and lonely.
His ‘less-together’ brother Conrad, played by Sean Penn, shows up with a special gift that Nicholas reluctantly pursues. This ‘gift’ is an experience that that sends Nicholas on a wild and confusing ride that shakes him from all the things that he once thought were so important and brings him face to face with who he really is…in essence the gift that Nicholas receives is brokenness.
Brokenness is a gift who’s value is only fully realized once it’s over. But when we see it for what it is, brokenness has the greatest potential to lead us to gratitude, and gratitude to maturity.
May each one of us, when feeling broken and tired, remember James 1
Consider it a gift (pure joy), my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
I had all but forgotten about this movie. When it came out I thought it was very powerful (even though I was 15 when I saw it). I like this new thought on it. I like the idea of humility that was forced onto Duglas.