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In the movie Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story, Ben Crane is estranged from his father, distant from his daughter, Cale, at odds with his wife, and losing his farm slowly but surely. Ben didn't think his life could get worse, but, then, a racehorse is injured on the track. Ben steps in to save his daughter from having to witness the horse being put down and, also, loses his job. What he gains in the bargain is a horse and his life back. "Dreamer" is inspired by a true story and shows how love, sacrifice, and work on a shared cause can overcome despair and unite a family.
In one scene, due to circumstances beyond his control, Ben is forced to sell a racehorse, beloved by his daughter, in a claims race. This devastates Cale, and he takes out his own frustration on her in angry words.
That night the father is to go to her school. A large group of parents are assembled in a classroom for Parents Night. They are reading aloud selections of their own child's writing. The teacher invites Ben to come to the front to read the story Cale wrote. The teacher describes it as "inventive." Tentatively, Ben stands, picks up the folder, and heads for the front.
Like fairy tales, this one starts "once upon a time." Ben reads methodically, without feeling: "There was a noble king who lived in a beautiful castle overlooking green fields." But, an evil storm arises, and a "dark knight" slowly takes the kingdom away bit by bit. "But our king was a warrior, and he knew that if he could find his magic horse, he could restore the kingdom to greatness. He was not like most kings; he was quiet and kind. Everyone loved the king, which he may not have known." Suddenly, Ben recognizes that he is the king in the story. The story becomes more difficult for him to read, as it tells of the king's search for his magic horse, which he saves from "a raging river." Unfortunately, it was too late; the kingdom was gone, and the king "had given up." The horse, in its wisdom, led the king on a quest. When it seems that they can go no longer, "the horse asked him to trust him. The king didn't know if the horse had really spoken to him or he just hadn't had anything to eat in a few days." The horse takes the king on a last journey to the summit of a mountain. The trip is so perilous that the king is certain that it will be the death of them both, but "at the top they found his kingdom, restored." Tears begin to well up in Ben's eyes as he finishes the story, "All those who loved him greeted the king with pie and coffee, by Cale Crane. Can we keep these?"
Ben, upon returning home, goes up to his daughter's room, where she is already in bed. He tells her that he read her story, and Cale angrily says, "You mean the stupid one about the king?" Smiling to himself over his own blindness to her feelings, Ben says, "Yeah, the stupid king. I make mistakes, Cale. I'm sorry." Surprised, Cale sits up and asks, "So you like the stupid king?" Looking into her eyes, Ben says, "Yeah, I like the stupid king." Reaching up to embrace her dad, Cale says, "I love the stupid king." Ben replies, "He loves you, too."
Sometimes, like Ben, we make mistakes in relationships, often by not rightly considering how something we plan to do or say will affect the feelings of the other person. The horse Cale loved dearly had been severely injured, and he was certain no one would claim it. But, because of the love between daughter and father, there was hope for forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation.
Cale used the story to tell of her love for her father. The father responded to her expression with acknowledgement of his failure toward and affection for her.
By entering into reconciliation among ourselves, we continue the work of Christ reconciling persons through Love to the Triune Mystery. This means "newness of life," for newness of life is a relational blessing experienced in and through each other.
18All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. 19For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others. 20We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, "Be reconciled to God!" 21For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
(II Corinthians 5.18-21, NLT)
*Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story: TM & © 2006 Dreamworks LLC.
**OneLife writings are offered by Brian K. Wilcox, a United Methodist pastor serving in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. He writes in the spirit of John Wesley's focus on the priority of inner experience of the Triune God; scriptural holiness; ongoing sanctification; the goal of Christian perfection (or, wholeness). Brian lives a vowed contemplative life with his two dogs, Bandit Ty and St. Francis, in North Florida. OneLife writings are for anyone seeking to live and share love, joy, and peace in the world and in devotion to God as she or he best understands God.
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