LENT

In the 1930’s the American motion picture industry adopted the Motion Picture Production Code. In so doing, Hollywood itself decided what was acceptable to show in movies instead of having an outsider dictate this for them. One of the areas they restricted was the way that men and women interacted in romantic films – no more steamy love scenes!

This raised a new question. How do you keep an audience interested in a love affair for two hours when you can’t show it? Their answer was by keeping the man and woman apart until the very end of the movie when, after conquering various comedic obstacles, they get together, express their love and just like that, they created the romantic comedy. As a result of Hollywood’s decision to self-discipline, they were able to see new possibilities in film making and created one of the most popular genres in film.

From now until Easter Christians exercise self-discipline by giving up something pleasurable as a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice – no sweets, no T.V., no soft drinks, these are common. Like Hollywood’s Production Code, our discipline could help us to see the sacrifice of the Christ in a whole new way. Don’t let this season of Lent pass unobserved. Take a moment, resolve to abstain from some particular pleasure and when it begins to feel like a sacrifice, allow this to remind you of the sacrifice of Christ and see if you begin to see new possibilities for your life.