Executive Director's Blog

Who We Are

Director’s Commentary

Jonathan Dow

Taking advantage of one of those $5 DVD bins at a department store, I recently picked up a movie I had wanted to watch. After viewing the film, I began to explore the menu and the “Special Features.” There were numerous options: deleted scenes, gag reel, “the making of” documentary, interviews with the actors, and alternate endings. After viewing the deleted scenes and the alternate endings, questions began to roll around edpic11-11

my mind as to why those particular scenes did not make the final cut.

Further exploring the menu, I came across a “Director’s Commentary” option. Turning it on, I was able to watch the deleted scenes and the alternate endings again, this time, with the luxury of hearing from the director himself. As he explained his rationale, things began to make sense. My strong opinions began to soften as I heard his heart and his vision behind his actions. I also began to understand why some scenes I thought had value, ultimately did not. I even developed some empathy for the tough decisions he had to make in choosing what was to remain and what was to be removed for the ultimate good of the story. Most intriguing was the explanation as to why, out of all the alternatives, he chose the ending that he did. Without the director’s commentary, I would have been full of my own opinions, and have missed some of the big picture (pardon the pun).

That experience got me thinking about our lives. Along our faith journey there are scenes for which we don’t have the luxury of the Director’s commentary. In the pain of divine silence, we can replay those scenes over and over again with “Why?” questions swirling around our hearts and our minds like annoying insects. If we are not careful, we can get lost in the folly of finite creatures trying to comprehend the actions of an infinite God. Demanding the “right” for an answer can be the reflection of a heart bowed down to the idol of our intellect.

I believe God’s invitation to us in those moments is to let go of our “right” to an answer, and to instead, take His hand. Would you hear the Director’s heart and voice speaking over those scenes in your life for which you do not have an answer? “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 41:10, 55:8-9). So, “Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one that the Lord loves, rests between his shoulders” (Deuteronomy 33:12). May you discover God’s perfect peace and rest.

Executive Director's Blog

Director’s Commentary

More Articles...