Dear God, I remember when this movie first came out. I was just out of college working for a Christian music publisher. I was also newly married. As I recall, I saw it more than once in the theater. I would put this movie in my top ten of all time. As I watched this movie recently, I was asking myself why I find it so compelling.
I think that what I like is the idea of someone mocking you by using your name to con people, and then you show up and turn their world upside down. I like the idea that you cannot be mocked. I like the idea that you are bigger than those who don’t believe in you. Steve Martin really does a masterful job in the movie. I wonder if his role had any impact on him, or if any of the message that the film communicates gets lost in the production of a movie.
Being in a public role with the nonprofit where I work, one thing I did start to wonder is if there is any Jonas Nightengale in me as I do my job. I spoke to a group of about 200 people last week and I talked about you and your role in our nonprofit. Was I being honest? Was there any part of what I did that was more show than substance? While I do my best to be as earnest as possible in my private life as I am publicly, I am also aware that there is a part of me that knows how to present things well.
Father, I want to be like the choir in Leap of Faith. They are part of the show, but they are there earnestly. In fact, they are as much the victims of Jonas’ con as the audience is, but they are also part of the show. While I don’t want to be conned, I do want to be part of giving you glory through my work, which is all they were trying to do. Probably the most frequently way I get conned in my job is by patients. They lie to me to get my help, and I often help them anyway. I don’t mind as much because I feel like, just like to touched Jonas, you can touch them through their con as well. You will not be mocked, and if you are touching their lives in any way, then it will be for their good.
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