
Scarlett O’Hara stands in my bedroom underneath a protective case. She’s a constant reminder of one of my favorite stories – Gone With the Wind. Something about that story always engaged my imagination. The glamour of the pre-war South is starkly contrasted with the harsh reality of unfulfilled dreams, lost relationships, and broken hearts. Life can be so hard: Scarlett found that out too.
One of my favorite scenes is Scarlett’s visit to Rhett in jail. She has returned to her war-ravished home to find that she, a Southern belle, must work as a field hand to feed her family. After fighting the elements and working day and night, she is totally devastated when she realizes she needs money for taxes to save Tara, her cherished home. Her only resort was to make a visit to Rhett Butler, the richest man she knew, except now he was in jail.
Preparation for this visit included creating a dress from curtains and disguising the signs of manual labor, especially calloused hands. Much to her dismay, Rhett examined her palms to discover the ugly truth of her life. Fighting to survive causes damage; Scarlett would never be the same again, inside or out. She had tried to carry a load too heavy for one young woman. Not only were her hands calloused, but also her heart was permanently scarred.
All too often I encounter Scarletts walking the streets of my community. Women who have been smitten by the harsh reality of life are not just in movies and novels. They may work behind a local fast food counter or live in the most prestigious neighborhoods, yet they all share a hidden secret. Life is hard, and its load has left a mark on their lives – a mark they so desperately try to hide. Just like Scarlett O’Hara, they are desperate to hide the truth and to pretend life is as good as it has always been. Survival requires pretending everything is okay, doesn’t it? Is there another way to face the weight of life’s struggles?
From another book, I hear the answer to the question. Jesus proclaimed the answer in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” When we are yoked with Jesus, He pulls the weight of the load. In ancient times a younger, inexperienced animal was yoked with a strong one. The sturdy, experienced one pulled the load; the other walked along beside. Jesus declared the good news of this to our hearts. He’ll pull the load. We just need to walk beside Him.
There’s no hope for Scarlett. She’s a fictional character trapped in a tragic story, but there is hope for you and me. All we need to do is yoke ourselves to Him and walk beside Him, for He will carry our load. Our calluses will slowly fade, and we will no longer need to hide ourselves. He will make us new again. Look out world we’re not a part of a tragedy. Our story is one of victory and that’s the truth. No fiction for us - victory in Jesus is a fact!
One of my favorite scenes is Scarlett’s visit to Rhett in jail. She has returned to her war-ravished home to find that she, a Southern belle, must work as a field hand to feed her family. After fighting the elements and working day and night, she is totally devastated when she realizes she needs money for taxes to save Tara, her cherished home. Her only resort was to make a visit to Rhett Butler, the richest man she knew, except now he was in jail.
Preparation for this visit included creating a dress from curtains and disguising the signs of manual labor, especially calloused hands. Much to her dismay, Rhett examined her palms to discover the ugly truth of her life. Fighting to survive causes damage; Scarlett would never be the same again, inside or out. She had tried to carry a load too heavy for one young woman. Not only were her hands calloused, but also her heart was permanently scarred.
All too often I encounter Scarletts walking the streets of my community. Women who have been smitten by the harsh reality of life are not just in movies and novels. They may work behind a local fast food counter or live in the most prestigious neighborhoods, yet they all share a hidden secret. Life is hard, and its load has left a mark on their lives – a mark they so desperately try to hide. Just like Scarlett O’Hara, they are desperate to hide the truth and to pretend life is as good as it has always been. Survival requires pretending everything is okay, doesn’t it? Is there another way to face the weight of life’s struggles?
From another book, I hear the answer to the question. Jesus proclaimed the answer in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” When we are yoked with Jesus, He pulls the weight of the load. In ancient times a younger, inexperienced animal was yoked with a strong one. The sturdy, experienced one pulled the load; the other walked along beside. Jesus declared the good news of this to our hearts. He’ll pull the load. We just need to walk beside Him.
There’s no hope for Scarlett. She’s a fictional character trapped in a tragic story, but there is hope for you and me. All we need to do is yoke ourselves to Him and walk beside Him, for He will carry our load. Our calluses will slowly fade, and we will no longer need to hide ourselves. He will make us new again. Look out world we’re not a part of a tragedy. Our story is one of victory and that’s the truth. No fiction for us - victory in Jesus is a fact!