I got the chance to go see the movie Gleason not too long ago. The film is about a former football player who gets diagnosed with ALS (Physicist Stephen Hawking also has this, what is referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease). The diagnosis comes just before his son is born so he records videos to document his life for his son to watch.
First of all, this movie was terrific. I knew my heart strings would be pulled but I had no idea I would walk away from the movie and still think about this family days later. Steve Gleason and his wife are so likeable and the direction of the movie was incredible. Secondly, I could not shake the idea of PERSEVERANCE after I watched the movie.
Yes, the movie was raw and gives viewers a great insight on what ALS can do to a person and how it effects their entire life. But throughout the movie he never stops fighting to live his life. There were times when he could have given up, and it would have most certainly been the easier route for him. He goes through ups and downs with his spiritual faith – anyone who has ever been seriously ill or known someone who has can relate to that. The Gleason’s marriage is tested beyond more than a couple should have to be tested, yet his determination to preserve remained the same. He was resolved that ALS was not going to stop him. I won’t spoil the movie with too many details but by the end I was really glad I saw it.
Days after I watched Gleason the idea of perseverance dominated my thinking. Perseverance gives us a long term perspective. This life is not going to be perfect. I believe that God has started a good work in me and there will be times I have to weather the storms of life; but I know the outcome is good – and if I can persevere, stay determined, finish strong – I will see that good work finished.
Perseverance may not be something that you think about often. I definitely think about it now than I ever have before. I want to encourage you to not let things in life stop you from achieving your goals and seeing your dreams come to pass. One of my favorite quotes (hanging up in my office) is from Rick Warren. He said “Never stop learning, Never compare yourself, and Never give up.” This is what perseverance looks like to me.
So, when I want to give up, when I want to quit – I will remind myself of Gleason and perseverance, and I will not let anything stop me from living the life I want to live.
All the best…K.
P.S. the movie has some mature content in it so I do not recommend it for younger viewers. 😉
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