For entertainment or escape, some people watch football, some people like ice skating, some people follow “Dancing with the Stars” or “American Idol.” I watch Bollywood films. I don’t know why I waited so long to see Slumdog Millionaire. Bollywood movies are extremely popular around the world. Why Newsweek magazine listed Sharukh Kahn, star of Bollywood and the most famous actor in the world, as one of the most influential people in the world.
I have found that familiarity with Indian movies introduces a commonality with friends and acquaintances from other many countries; for instance, my Ethiopian neighbors, and my Philippine and Pakistani friends.
Several characteristics of Indian movies appeal to their fans. They usually have a happy ending; the plot is intertwined, like a novel; there is a love story, even if it is a suspense or action film; they are usually long movies, over two hours; and they always have dancing. Many would agree that they have the best dancers in movies.
More than half way through Slumdog Millionaire, I had a scary thought; “Oh, this will turn out bad.” Then I remembered, it was an Indian movie, and it had to have a happy ending. There was no dancing, though, to my surprise, but true to tradition, when the movie was over, the main characters and hundreds of extras danced a beautifully choreographed number.
The film, though, unlike many Bollywood movies, showed a side of India that most Indians would rather us not see. It showed us, surprisingly, the religious hatred that some Indians have for Muslims; it revealed the extremely poor, often orphaned children of the cities of Bombay and Mumbai.
The story is told through the lens of a young man, orphaned by a pogrom of Muslims in one of the poorer neighborhoods often referred to as the “slums.” Hence the name “Slumdog.” However, “slumdog,” is a name rooted in the prejudicial caste system that Mahatma Ghandi worked so hard to dismantle during his lifetime. Some critics disapprove of the use of the word “slumdog,” and say that it brings people back to an era from which many Indians have worked hard to leave behind. Other critics have written that the salvation of the young man is winning millions on the television show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” This demonstrates an unrealistic view of how poorer people can achieve advancement.
There are aspects of Slumdog for us to criticize; however, there is also redemption, salvation, and grace in the movie.
Yes, I recommend that you go see it or put it on your reserve list on Netflix. The reason though, may be different than what you might guess. I want you to see it, because it gives an honest portrayal, of the Indian culture that we would not otherwise see. It isn’t your usual Bollywood—Hollywood—feel-good, happy-ending movie.
A woman coming out of the theatre said, “I have never seen such a sad, “feel good” movie.”
While the movie shows, not only the personal struggles and pain of some people in India, it reminds us that if there is pain in one part of the system, there has to be pain and suffering throughout the whole system.
Another reason we need to see the movie, is to remind ourselves that human suffering is universal. It reminds us of the pain and suffering of children, women, men, here in DC. Oh, the cultural conditions or not the same, but we see children here living in squalor, cardboard homes, and under freeway overpasses. We see children in the United States lose their parents to bigotry, poverty, and slavery. We cannot, for one minute, believe that what we see on the Slumdog screen is unique in any way.
We also need to remind ourselves, that in some way, we are connected to all children. All children ARE OUR CHILDREN. Bill Gates wrote, “… I believe that the death of a child in Africa is no less … tragic than the death of a child anywhere else.” [From This I Believe The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women, Edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman]
Dag Hammarskjold was a Swedish diplomat and served as the second Secretary-General of the United Nations. Some historians consider him one of the most effective international diplomats after World War II. As the Secretary-General, he negotiated peace treaties around the world and throughout his eight years as head of the UN, he sought many ways to ease the conflict between the Palestinians and Israel. In September 1961, Hammarskjold was in route to negotiate a cease-fire in an African conflict when his plane crashed near Zambia.
Roberto Clemente was one of the best baseball players ever play the game. During the off-season he was well-known for his service and charity work. When Managua, the capital city of Nicaragua, was affected by a massive earthquake on December 23, 1972, Clemente (who had been visiting Managua three weeks before the quake) immediately set to work arranging emergency relief flights. He soon learned, however, that the aid packages on the first three flights had been diverted by corrupt officials of the Somoza government, never reaching victims of the quake. Clemente decided to accompany the fourth relief flight, hoping that his presence would ensure that the aid would be delivered to the survivors. The airplane crashed into the ocean off the coast of Isla Verde, Puerto Rico immediately after takeoff [December 31, 1972].
Congressional Representative George Thomas “Mickey” Leland worked tirelessly all his public and political life for public health issues, the hungry, and the homeless. He was a recognized leader in hunger aid, not only in the United States, but world-wide. Leland fought against governments who would hold their hungry citizens hostage; who would put political gain before hunger relief. In August 1989, he was leading a mission to an isolated refugee camp, which sheltered thousands of unaccompanied children fleeing the civil conflict in neighboring Sudan when his plane crashed in Gambela, Ethiopia.
Hammarskjold, Clemente, and Leland lived there lives to help others. They died in pursuit of helping others.
Can you imagine what their lives were like? I’ve often wonder what it would be like to be Clara Barton or Mother Teresa? What do you suppose fueled their efforts to make a difference in so many lives?
Hammarskjöld, Clemente, Leland, as well as Clara Barton and Mother Teresa were as different as we are different from each other.
Hammarskjold grew up in a privileged home; his father was a prime minister of Sweden. Clemente grew up in Puerto Rico to poor, hard-working parents. Mickey Leland grew up in a poor, segregated neighborhood in Houston, Texas, with his single-parent mother who worked her way through college and became a teacher. Mother Teresa, born in the Balkans, was raised by her widowed mother. Clara Barton was born to a privileged home in North Oxford, Massachusetts.
How could we know what fueled their service; there is little commonality other than what they gave?
How did they do all the time, what we “want” to do, but don’t have the courage or wherewithal to do it.
How did they do all the time, what we “want” to do, but don’t have the courage or wherewithal to do it.
From everything I have read about them, their one commonality was their call from God. Each one believed God called them to service.
As I said in my newsletter column this month, many of our newcomers ask me, “What are some of the social services projects here at UNMC?” And I tell them about David Skidmore’s leadership efforts to cook once a month for the men of Leland Place, name after Mickey Leland, by the way. I tell them how we help Food For All, and I talk about Perry King’s efforts to support efforts to feed the hungry in Haiti and Palestine. We also sent some school supplies to Panama through Ruth Vater’s efforts. I also share with them how we made brown bag lunches during the Christmas holidays and delivered over 160 lunches to the homeless and hungry.
My question for us today is what else can we do as a Congregation to make a difference? Do we make intentional efforts to see the suffering here in our community? Do we really believe that in our privileged western life, we are exempt for the suffering that we see in movies like Slumdog Millionaire or Hotel Rwanda?
Isabel Allende, world renowned South American author and educator, wrote this about her twenty-eight-year-old-daughter who volunteered helping women and children, six days a week, eight hours a day.
“Paralyzed and silent in her bed, [dying,] Paula taught me a lesson that is now my mantra. You only have what you give. It’s by spending yourself that you become rich.”
…by spending yourself, by giving of yourself, you become rich…
We have two kinds of people here in our congregation; there are those who spend their lives making a difference by what they do for a living. Forty, fifty, even sixty hours a week, their work makes a difference in many, many lives. Rob Bertram works for US Aid, and he is a wonderful example of making a difference in what he does for a living. That is not unusual for our congregation. You come to church, not so much to find some way to give of yourself, but to find a spiritual and religious home.
And there are those who work at jobs that do not specifically make a difference. Say, for example, computer sales, advertising, or politics. You may come to church to find a religious or spiritual home, but it is as important to find something here that will allow you to reach out to others, to make a difference.
In our reading this morning from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus talks about different kinds of givers.
“Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.”
He said the widow gave more because she gave out of poverty. And that is true, when every penny counts, it is hard to give every penny. But, you know, it takes all of us to support the Temple. It takes all of us to make the ministries of this church to make a difference. It takes all of us to keep the doors open.
If UNMC is to continue to be a spiritual and religious home and give to all of us a place where we can make a difference, we all need to give some of our time, some of our talents, and some of our treasure to the church.
This month, March, is that one, one time of the year when we have a pledge campaign. It is during March when we ask you to pledge, time, talent, and treasure so that we can make a difference.
My hope is for our church to give more to our community.
To give more to the hungry and homeless.
To give more to the people of Panama, Haiti, and Palestine.
We cannot do it as a church, unless we all give something. It doesn’t have to be a burden; it needs to be given in joy and love.
We can create a church were spiritual growth fosters giving and love fosters service. [Adapted from our opening words by Sue Ayer]
Why, we have a choir member who started an organization Jambo Africa Child Hope. She has listened to her call.
When the budget, finance, and stewardship committee asks you to think about pledging, think about it, not whether you can pledge, but how much you can pledge?
We are all called by God to give, make no mistake, God is calling each one of us to give, give some of our time, some of our talent, and some of our treasure.
Amen and Blessed Be.
OPENING WORDS
By Sue Ayer
We have come here in search of answers to hard questions. We have come in search of understanding – in search of community. We have come in search of hope and healing.
Let this be a place not only of searching, but of discovery. Let this be a place not only of meeting, but of connection. And let this be a place where healing fosters giving and hope fosters service.
Reading I
By Mother Teresa
Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, for money one can get.
I would like more people to give their hands to serve and their hearts to love - to recognize the poor in their own homes, towns and countries and to reach out to them in love and compassion, giving where it is most needed, and share the joy of loving with everyone.
A mission of love comes from union with God. From that union comes love for the family, love for neighbors. Love for the poor is natural fruit.
Reading II
Mark 12:41-44 (New International Version)
The Widow's Offering
41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,[a]worth only a fraction of a penny.[b]
43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."