Article January 1, 1999 Issue

Films and God's influence

Flávio M. Colombini

I love action movies. I notice, however, that in the past they've had a bad influence on me. Maybe this is because action movies often give the impression that violence is a solution for problems — that roughing up or even killing enemies is always the answer. This isn't true, though. Generally, violence only makes things worse. Much worse.

One day, a classmate at college got mad at me for a stupid reason and said he would smash my face. I started to imagine a spectacular fight with him, complete with kicks and blows, and with myself winning in the end, of course! I had to make an effort to leave this imaginary world. I knew in my heart that violence is never a solution. Even if I won a fight, my classmate probably would seek revenge, and the problem would go on and on.

I knew I had to be calm and loving in order to reach a solution. I read “Love Your Enemies,” by Mary Baker Eddy (see Miscellaneous Writings, p. 8), and endeavored to see my classmate in the way that God, who is Love, sees him. I forgave him in my thoughts. I started to feel good about him. I no longer imagined a fight between us.

Send a comment to the editors