I haven’t seen the movie, but there is a scene in the trailer for “The Descendants” that pierces my heart. The scene, set in Hawaii, shows a graying George Clooney in flip-flops running as fast as he can down a road. His age and the sandals make his running comical and sadly awkward. A close-up shows the strain on his face.
I identify with Clooney here, not just because of my stunning good looks, but because in the movie Clooney plays a character who is pursuing his family and his kids. And in this scene he looks ridiculous running down the road in flip-flops. I too feel ridiculous–out of touch, not knowing what to say to touch the hearts of my sons, not knowing how to help them find their way or discover God’s will. And yet the intensity in Clooney’s face expresses how hard I am running, how much I want to help. I know I look silly. Love has stolen my dignity. I am a father in flip-flops always running to the prodigal on the road. Ridiculous.
