Psalm 32 - The Way

Psalm 32 - The Way

Continuing the Psalms @ The Movies theme, today’s movie is inspired by the opening words of Psalm 32

Happy is the one who is forgiven
Whose wound is healed
Happy the one restored to your harmony

Psalm 32 is a Psalm about forgiveness - forgiveness from God, forgiveness of self. For me, the film that speaks to this, especially forgiveness of self, is a film that didn’t make a lot at the box office (Only about $14 million...only...lol) but was one that, when I saw it, immediately led me to watch it again. There’s only a few films that have moved me in that way. This was one. It is simply entitled, “The Way.”

The film is about a father (Martin Sheen) traveling to France to collect the remains of his son (Emilio Estevez, who also co-wrote and directed the film) who died during a storm while walking the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage trail that goes from France into NW Spain. Sheen’s character chooses to finish the journey on the Camino in honor and memory of his son. The film is not only gorgeous in the cinematography but beautiful in what it speaks to forgiveness.

Without going into spoiler-territory, the film delves into the forgiveness that Sheen’s character needs - forgiveness for himself as a husband and father, forgiveness of what he perceived in his son, and also receiving forgiveness as well. While the film takes place along a pilgrimage trail, it is not necessarily a “religious” film but religious faith is woven throughout.

Those words that open this Psalm...happy is the one who is forgiven, whose wound is healed, happy the one restored to your harmony...they immediately led me to a few particular scenes in this beautiful film. But they also reminded me about how, like this film is a journey along a pilgrimage trail, forgiveness is a long journey. It isn’t a simple, straightline path. Nor is instantaneous. It is a journey. It takes time to forgive. It takes time to receive forgiveness. Sometimes the journey is easier but sometimes the journey of forgiveness is really hard.

But the journey is worth it when you do come to a point of feeling the freedom in forgiving and being forgiven. If you do watch the film, you’ll see a scene toward the end that exemplifies this freedom in a stunning way. I am grateful for the forgiveness I have received from others and grateful for the forgiveness that I have grown into as well.

Grace, Peace, Love, and Joy,
Ed

PS - Scout image of the day…

There are times I think she believes she is a human…

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