Professor Popinjay's Compendium of Perspicacity

A Non-review by Professor Popinjay

Gerard Butler plays real life Sam Childers who, after getting out of prison and away from drug-dealing, eventually finds himself protecting groups of Sudanese children who are being taken and forced to be soldiers and, likely, other things far worse.

Normally a plot about a man who is redeemed from a dangerous, self-destructive lifestyle who then becomes a missionary would be presented as a happy hopeful film with a joyful ending. There would be no sex, no swearing, no extreme violence, and the soundtrack would be performed by Jars of Clay.

Not so this film. This is a dark, gritty, and harshly realistic depiction right down to the scene where Sam and his wife can’t even wait to get home for a bit of How’s Your Father with the Missus. So don’t go gathering the elderly from your church for a wholesome family movie night. I promise, they’ll be scandalized and desecrate the nation… or whatever it is they do when offended.

I’d like to immediately (after three paragraphs) address an elephant in the room: This film is not in any way promoting the use of violence and high powered weaponry in tandem with preaching or as a means to emphasize a five point sermon. Sam found himself in a volatile situation in a country with a vicious militant group that was preying on children. Might there have been other means to protect the children in his charge? Maybe. I won’t argue that point. All I know is, there is a time for everything. There’s a time to heal and there’s a time to flip tables.

The juxtaposition I found particularly sad and fascinating was the comparison between Sam’s work in Sudan and his relationships at home. While he’s saving kids in a far away land, his daughter desires a fancy soirée and limousine for her graduation. Sam considers this a waste of money. Perhaps such an expenditure was beyond their means but his daughter clearly needed some more attention from her dad. This relationship seemed to suffer on account of Sam’s other convictions.

Likewise, Sam was not there for his very hurting friend consumed still with drugs and alcohol. His friend’s last words were literally “I wish you were here.” spoken to no one but a non-present Sam.

It’s a difficult thing to reconcile. Obviously Sam can’t be everywhere at once. Was he trying to do too much? Was it right to sacrifice paternal and fraternal relations to achieve what he believed in elsewhere? I don’t know the answer.

Optional Preachy Tangent (sans machine gun):

I am friends with a man from Nigeria. When my time as children’s pastor had ended, there were maybe five children attending regularly. The rest came from difficult home situations and attended only once in a while as they were often splitting their time with another parent. My family was still growing when I “moved into other ministries.” That’s diplomatic church-speak for “being replaced because my wife’s schizophrenia is causing problems.” In retrospect I appreciate the diplomacy. 

Eventually, I had five children. I’ll never forget what my Nigerian friend said when I told him I’m not a pastor anymore.

He said “Pastah Chrees (Pastor Chris in his beautiful accent) how many children were in your ministry?”

“Five,” I said.

“And how many children live in your home?”

“Five” I said again.

“You are still Pastah Chrees.”

I believe the ebb and flow of relationships in each of our lives happens in its own perfect timing. To be a positive influence, a source of love and encouragement, yes even protection, to those placed in our lives at those given times is part of our purpose as humans. We take and give and move on and share with others. It’s very easy for our work or passions to become an idol when we think the cause is just and righteous.

Sam did not solve the situation in Sudan once and for all, he made it better for a select few (a very large select few). That is no small thing as those kids will grow and learn and hopefully change other lives for the better as well. Did Sam need to be in Sudan for as long as he had? Probably not. There were others doing what he did. Could he have been more present for his daughter and his hurting friend? Very likely. Again, I don’t know what the answer is.

I do know that life feels best when I maintain balance between all aspects of life. This film portrays Sam achieving good works, but his life was not well balanced. One could argue, he may have been more effective in all areas of his life, even his work in Sudan, had he chosen to balance his work with the others in his charge. But I’m assessing a film, not a person.

The real Sam Childers (on whom I did 0% research other than find this picture and learn he was still alive) is still alive and working hard. From the looks of him, he’s the last person I’d want to piss off. My suspicion is, if he’s seen this film or experienced his own actual life, he’s likely learned to balance these things very well. One does not lose a friend in the way this film depicts without some serious introspection. Sam has my sincerest condolences and my utmost respect. If anything this film has led me to assess the balance of my own life, a fact for which I am grateful.