In the film TRUE GRIT, Mattie kills Chaney but falls down a mine shaft and is bitten by a rattler. The image is Christlike: Rooster (Cogburn) descends into the pit, kills the snake, and pulls out the wounded Mattie. His only concern is getting her to safety. Rooster hauls Mattie and places her on the saddle of her pony and drives the horse through the late afternoon, through the evening, into the night, finally riding the poor animal into the ground, trying to get Mattie to medical attention. After the horse collapses, Rooster scoops the girl up into his arms and starts running. The Coen Brothers’ film adaptation makes the gospel connection clear. “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” plays as Rooster carries Mattie to safety. Somewhere along the way, Rooster took to calling Mattie “little sister.” After reaching help, he stayed with her until his little sister was out of all danger. The picture is clear: Rooster Cogburn had grit, but what really made him heroic was his heart. Beneath that mean, pitiless, double-tough exterior, the man cared. (Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. —Philippians 2:4 esv) -- NO CAPE REQUIRED: 52 Ways to Unleash Your Inner Hero by Kristen Parrish amazon/No-Cape-Required-Devotional-Unleash/dp/1400205158
Posted on: Sun, 02 Mar 2014 15:36:08 +0000