An Expectant Faith

Let me recommend to you the movie The Great Buck Howard, now available on DVD at local video stores. (Rated PG). John Malkovich plays Buck Howard, a "mentalist" whose is known most for appearing 61 times on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Howard is famous mostly in his own mind, and travels relentlessly--happy to perform for smaller and smaller crowds. Buck Howard ends every show with his signature feat: the crowd randomly selects one of the audience who hides money while Howard is back stage with witnesses to prove he is not peeking. Without fail, Howard locates the money, with no known help, trickery, or audio support. How does he do it? How does this man who is arrogant and brash, who can't find his own way down a hallway, pull this off?

One of the most interesting dynamics of the movie is that most people assume that Howard is not for real. Most people who interview him or watch him closely are more concerned about other aspects of his quirky personality or habits. In one telling scene, Howard somehow induces an entire crowd to fall asleep, but the media learns that Jerry Springer has had a accident on the highway, so they rush off prematurely, and the event is lost. People just aren't paying attention. Thought Buck Howard is consistent, the world is too distracted to notice. That, or they just can't handle the mystery of it all.

Though not the best movie you may see all year, it does prompt reflection on our own approach to life and faith. The Bible teaches us that God is active and involved in the world--some times in the plain and obvious, sometimes in the hidden and unknown. It is too easy to remain distracted, not noticing the little miracles all around us. It is too easy to get caught up in asking the wrong questions, demanding answers that either won't help or that can never be answered. In a cynical world, our challenge is to remain in a posture of surprise, awe and fascination. If you find yourself bored, if you find yourself drained, perhaps God is inviting you to start again. Start over with a beginner's mind, waiting, ready to catch God in the act of doing good.

Buying my ticket, Pastor David