Northern Lights
There is a new series on UK TV that was inspired by the success of a one-off programme screened in December 2004, "Christmas Lights." Its name is "Northern Lights" and it is set in North Manchester where I lived for over 20 years. Two school pals grew up and married sisters. We meet them as they bring up their families next door to each other.
The story is comedy/tragedy as it tells of the ups and downs of the relationship between the two young men. Their parts are played by two extremely popular actors, Robson Green and Mark Benton. There is jealousy as Howard is promoted to manager and Colin remains a van driver. There is comradeship when the estranged father of Colin dies. Howard supports Colin at a job interview and he gets promotion to foreman and we see him trying to open a spreadsheet on his PC at work.
In other words the feelings of each to the other's success or needs are beautifully plotted. They are a reflection of the daily lives of many people. Yet the programme is extremely popular. The comedy is brilliant, yet it simply displays the silly things that friends do together, like Russian Roulette with beer cans, one of which has been shaken to catch out the unwary drinker!
Our lives are full of comedy and pathos. Although I am a only lay preacher I have led over 70 funeral services. This has involved meeting over 70 families and talking to them about the life of their loved one. It has been a privilege to see snapshots of the lives of ordinary men and women who have lived and died in North and East Manchester. But through the tragedy of loss I have been told the funniest stories of happenings involving the deceased.
Most of the mourners have never been to church and have no idea of what to expect at a service. So it has been an opportunity for outreach. I have been able to tell them of the love of God and how it is and will be expressed to them through others. They have been told of a love which reaches out to bereaved and all sufferers. Some of them have said how helpful the service has been. The other side of the coin is my personal feelings about people who dress and behave as agressively as possible to make a kind of warning/statement to people they meet. I used to see them as trouble makers. But when I see so called hard young men carrying their father's coffin into church and tears are rolling down their faces I see the love which exists in all families.
All this tells me that people are fundamentally loving and bond well. It tells me that there is potential in all of them to find God through Jesus and make a contribution to life for the benefit of others. Jesus never gave up on anyone. He still does not give up on them. He has complete faith in their ability to serve their few humans. Paul of Tarsus was a young man intent on arresting all who followed the "new way" and make them answer to the authorities. Yet Jesus saw great potential in him as the first major Christian missionary.
We all have it in us to serve God well. We are surrounded by millions of people with the same level of potential. All we have to do is make contact and the movement starts.
The story is comedy/tragedy as it tells of the ups and downs of the relationship between the two young men. Their parts are played by two extremely popular actors, Robson Green and Mark Benton. There is jealousy as Howard is promoted to manager and Colin remains a van driver. There is comradeship when the estranged father of Colin dies. Howard supports Colin at a job interview and he gets promotion to foreman and we see him trying to open a spreadsheet on his PC at work.
In other words the feelings of each to the other's success or needs are beautifully plotted. They are a reflection of the daily lives of many people. Yet the programme is extremely popular. The comedy is brilliant, yet it simply displays the silly things that friends do together, like Russian Roulette with beer cans, one of which has been shaken to catch out the unwary drinker!
Our lives are full of comedy and pathos. Although I am a only lay preacher I have led over 70 funeral services. This has involved meeting over 70 families and talking to them about the life of their loved one. It has been a privilege to see snapshots of the lives of ordinary men and women who have lived and died in North and East Manchester. But through the tragedy of loss I have been told the funniest stories of happenings involving the deceased.
Most of the mourners have never been to church and have no idea of what to expect at a service. So it has been an opportunity for outreach. I have been able to tell them of the love of God and how it is and will be expressed to them through others. They have been told of a love which reaches out to bereaved and all sufferers. Some of them have said how helpful the service has been. The other side of the coin is my personal feelings about people who dress and behave as agressively as possible to make a kind of warning/statement to people they meet. I used to see them as trouble makers. But when I see so called hard young men carrying their father's coffin into church and tears are rolling down their faces I see the love which exists in all families.
All this tells me that people are fundamentally loving and bond well. It tells me that there is potential in all of them to find God through Jesus and make a contribution to life for the benefit of others. Jesus never gave up on anyone. He still does not give up on them. He has complete faith in their ability to serve their few humans. Paul of Tarsus was a young man intent on arresting all who followed the "new way" and make them answer to the authorities. Yet Jesus saw great potential in him as the first major Christian missionary.
We all have it in us to serve God well. We are surrounded by millions of people with the same level of potential. All we have to do is make contact and the movement starts.
posted by Keith Alexander at Saturday, February 18, 2006
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home