Volume XII, Issue VIa: Tony Nathan at Woodlawn
The Real Jesus Revolution
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." -- John 4:35
I just watched the movie Woodlawn again. Although it is having a rather limited distribution, you really should watch it. The movie tells the real life story of athlete Tony Nathan and the very real Faith that brought healing to the racial tension of Birmingham, Alabama in the 1970's.
The film has a great message about how the Divine can indeed use our gifts and talents to bring healing and redemption into our world. Several times during the film the 'other' weekly news magazine's cover THE JESUS REVOLUTION is shown. TIME presents a very psychedelic illustration of the 'Jesus Freak' movement. Woodlawn tells the real story.
Indeed the character of Hank, portrayed by Sean Patrick Astin (Samwise Gamgee in the Rings Trilogy) tells a great story of how many of us came to Faith in that period and the impact of lives touching lives. His hopes of a baseball career dashed by a steel mill accident, Hank nonetheless becomes a great influence in the lives of countless young people!
Birmingham Alabama was being torn apart by racial tensions. The city experienced fifty bombings in the era and it seemed impossible for there to be healing. Then a young group of football players found Faith (and brotherhood) in Christ. The rest is history. Tony Nathan went on to play college ball at Alabama under Bear Bryant, at a school that was once off limits to him.
That is the true story of the work of the Divine in human lives. It goes on in many quiet ways today! We need to be part of it. All of us have young people in our lives. Are we being an instrument for the Divine to work in their lives?
(to be continued)
