Letters to God

The Paper: Based on the film “Letters to God” The premise of this film is about an extraordinary little boy named Tyler that has terminal cancer and his letters to God. His letters were the way he communicated his prayers to God. Even though he was going through a hard time in his life, his strong faith and courage kept his spirits up and that overflowed through him; making an impact in his neighborhood, school, family, friends, and the people that surround his life. Through this little boy’s bravery and faith, God used him as a conduit to show the love and grace that He gives. The movie deals with suffering, lost, doubt, second chances, hope, faith, and inspiration. How can one speak about God in world filled with suffering and hurt? Although Tyler suffered terminal cancer, he was able to keep up his spirits and a positive outlook in his life through this trial. I believe his letters to God were what kept his hopes high and his outlook positive. In class we talked about how God wants you to dream big, and when one genuinely truly believes in that, his or her hopes and outlook in life changes for the better. Society sees only your past and your present that’s why society limits you. God on the other hand, saw who you were, sees who you are now, and He also can see who you can become. That is because with God there are no limits. So the question is how can we speak about God in a world that is suffering? The only way we can each speak about God in this world, is through our own divine journey with Him. Through those journeys God will be most prevalent and God’s voice would be heard through the valleys.
Tyler’s letters were more than just mere communication. In fact, they were a tool used by God. God spoke through those letters and into the hearts of those who read them. For example, those letters restored the hope in Mr. Brady, Tyler’s postman. The letters gave Mr. Brady a second outlook in life. That is what God does- He give you second chances. Mr. Brady realized that he didn’t have to live in the past, but to look ahead toward his future. Yes, this world is filled with suffering, hurt, and pain, but God gives you hope, strength, and courage in a world of suffering and hurt. Thomas Aquinas said “ Our hearts are restless until they rest on you, oh God.” I believe that Thomas Aquinas referring to our journey in life. As humans we plan, change, and accommodate to this world, but this world can only give you momentary happiness. Thomas Aquinas knew that that is why he also said “We will find true happiness when we find God.” Sometimes it takes a time of brokenness when one can truly understand Thomas Aquinas’ words and then truly feel God’s love in our lives. In the beginning of the movie, Mr. Brady was lost, midway through the movie Mr. Brady had turn his life around again. That’s because he saw what Tyler was going through and yet he still had the strength and courage to look forward. Sometimes it is not easy to look forward when you are going through a hard time. For one thing, the fear that your past will catch up to you when you reach a good moment in your life, but with God your past is your past that’s why He sent His son to die for us. Your job is to learn from it and grow from what you have learned. God wants you to DREAM BIG! In dreaming big, one must look ahead towards the future. He see’s the potential in you even though you can’t see it. Once you start to look towards the future, never give up. Find that strength and courage to pick yourself up when the time of your past triggers you to a point in your present. Those are the moments in one’s life that will show you your true strength, but know that God is with you even in those moments of impacts. As in what happened to Mr. Brady towards the end of the movie. His past triggered a point of break down and he was about to start drinking again and wallowing in self-pity because of what he had done in the past. The difference this time around was Tyler’s letters to God and his newfound strength and courage. God puts people in our lives to be a light in their hard times even when they don’t know it. These people are God’s conduit of His love, grace, peace, and everything that encompasses what God is. That is why God made us in the image and likeness of Him. The goal of human life is to be happy such as what Thomas Aquinas said “We will find true happiness when we find God.” After Mr. Brady read those letters he ran out of his apartment to spread the good news and to spread God’s love. It’s just like the parable of the woman in the well John 4: 1-26. When one accepts God into their lives and actually walks the walk and talks the talk, the people around them will see a change
So how can one speak about God in a world that is suffering and hurt? By being a light amongst the darkness and God will guide your light to where it can be the brightest. Through His image and likeness, the people around your life’s journey will see the good news- God’s love. His good news -God’s love -will spread when that happens. So be that light in this dark world.