Sunday evening was the last gathering of our Sunday Cinema for this year. We saw the movie Milk, the story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the United States. This movie capped off our series of five movies based on true life stories of individuals who had ‘gone the distance’ to make a difference because of something they believed in.  It has been an interesting series. The movies have all been quite entertaining and engaging but more than the movie it was the person behind the movie that captivated my attention.

 

What is it that moves a person to such action that they risk personal loss and in some cases their life in order to move society? Each of the individual’s stories, which included William Wilberforce, Erin Brokovitch, Steve Lopez, Erin Gruwell and Harvey Milk, profiled a person who saw an injustice and rose to the challenge to confront it, often against staggering odds. Their stories encouraged us viewers to do some soul-searching as we considered what it would take to move us to such brave action.

 

Not all social justice has to be as dramatic as these stories. I believe that standing up against an in-justice can be as simple as confronting a racial slur made by an acquaintance or writing a letter for Amnesty International. Even these actions, while done amongst friends or at our kitchen tables, can be life changing for the one who is victimized.

 

I would encourage you this week to think about people you are aware of who have challenged the status quo and confronted an injustice. Then reflect on what would be required to move you to do the same.