A wide-open mouth, a bug-eyed look, a thumping heart, and a desire to chop an evil doer in the neck…these were all my reactions while watching “Taken.”  I think its one of the best movies I’ve actually ever seen.  I honestly don’t say that much.  It instantly went into my top ten list.  I won’t spoil the movies for those who have seen it, nor will I rehash it for those who have.  But I think what made it so unforgettable was, it had pretty much everything.  Both the men and women are loving it.  It resonates with us all.  We all want to feel rescued in some way because we all secretly know we’re lost.  We all want someone who loves us enough to pursue after us.  That might sound really strange for a guy since we’re supposed to be the ones pursuing, but still its true.  Why is this movie such a hit?  Its because it answers the screams of the world from deep within, it rings true in our inner being, and it strangely connects with our souls.

Its true that most of the world either live without a father or live with an unloving father.  With men who are uncommitted to their families, men who just follow their passions from woman to woman, men who won’t stand and do the right thing, men who have no self-control, men who are lazy, men who don’t fight for their families, men who don’t love their children, men who don’t lead their wives, men who don’t stick around, men who don’t work hard, men who are harsh, and men who just don’t give a crap…the world knows all about these men. These pains and hurts run so deep that people continue to feel the affects into their elderly years…and even to their death beds.

I must admit, I don’t know this from experience.  I have an incredibly loving father.  But what I do know from experience, is a loving Heavenly Father who has pursued me, who has fought my enemies, and who has saved me!  I don’t think this movie only connects with us becuase of our family situations, but most of all because of our whole life situation.  We are all born separated from God because of sin (Romans 3:10).  We are born without peace with God our Father because we are apart from Christ (Romans 5:1).  But our God is a Father who pursues His own, and who makes it possible to give them the greatest gift ever…eternal life through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:6-8, Romans 6:23).

If you truly connected with this movie and you’re not sure why, my prayer is that you’d think deeply to yourself and ask…is it because I’m longing for my relationship with my earthly father?  And aren’t I screaming inside for the eternal authority, God Himself, to be a loving Father to me who fights for me, who keeps me straight, who loves me, and who will ultimately defeat my enemies?

Disclaimer: While I think this is a good movie to see for many females (college and up), I don’t think some of the material is appropriate for junior and high school guys.  There are some “scantily clad” (as we might say) women in the movie, but it was obvious that the directors didn’t do so for the lust factor but rather for the reality and grossness of the context.