It’s been in theaters a while, but we finally went to see Soul Surfer.
If you are not familiar with the movie or the real-life story behind it, then you must receive your mail at the following address – Rock, Level -1. {Click her name to read Bethany Hamilton’s story.}
You see, Soul Surfer was a great movie about a Christian girl who was determined to not let a near fatal injury stop her from pursuing her dream. I really did enjoy it, especially the way it positively portrayed faith in Christ. The overall message was that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).
Even when many “Christian” movies get panned because of amateur acting and poorly written scripts, Soul Surfer was a gem. From an acting perspective, I thought that all the characters were believable and likable. AnnaSophia Robb was incredible, as always.
The “Sorta” Part
Aside from all of the positive aspects of this story, I have a few questions – a few things I don’t understand – and maybe some additional observations.
Questions:
- What makes a person willingly swim in waters that contain fish bigger than a SUV with teeth that can bite through bone?
- After losing one’s arm to an over-sized minnow with with a chain-saw for a mouth, does the water automatically get safer?
- What kind of person/relative/friend looks at their dismembered friend/daughter and agrees to go back into above-mentioned shark’s favorite restaurant?
- What kind of person, after having a large member of his/her body snipped off, along with a chunk of board, gets back out in the ocean for a surfing competition and sits around, flapping the water with the other arm, waiting for a stupid wave?
- If you are on the menu, don’t place yourself on the table.
- If you have been partially eaten by a fish, don’t expect me to believe you when you say, “Come on out, it’s fine.”
- Fish eat bait. Big fish like bigger bait. Splashing around in the water makes one look like big bait. You’re gonna get eaten.
- I do not swim in water with things that want to eat me. Period.
- I have never lost an arm, leg, or any other body part to a shark, barracuda, piranha, killer whale, giant squid, or paranoid guppie. Neither have I stepped on a shark, a sting ray, a rock fish, or the skeleton of Davy Jones. Why?
Fish don’t leap onto my dinner table. I don’t swim with fish that want to eat ME!
But hey, I’m not trying to judge anyone unfairly. Praise God for people who will take a stand for their faith, especially for Bethany Hamilton. She’s got more guts than I have. On the other hand, there ARE sharks in the water.
Application?
First, stay out of the ocean. I do, and I have never been bit by a shark. It’s just good advice.
Secondly, there’s something much worse than a shark out there. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8
Don’t play in the water with the Devil, unless you want to be devoured. Satan always keeps the waters warm and comfortable. He’s always hiding just below the surface where you can’t see him.
Related articles
- “The Real Story: Soul Surfer Bethany Hamilton” and related posts (beliefnet.com) This link has actual video of Bethany Hamilton describing what happened.
The Recovering Legalist 
I agree – Great Movie and thank you Hamilton Family for insisting that the important parts not be cut out!
As for you, Anthony, sounds like you will left to sit on the sandy beach of Florida alone while your wife and daughters have a great time playing in the beach. Any idea when we are going?
LikeLike
I have heard of “land sharks.”
LikeLike
Thanks for the review, and thanks for giving the big “ba dum” at the end! Loved it.
LikeLike
If I could have only had the sound track of “Jaws” playing in the background, that would have been cool.
LikeLike
Oh my gosh… this was soooo meant for me. Not so much the movie, but the questions you posed to those who venture into the sharks ‘restaurant”… I have been saying that very thing for years.. all of it. And I loved how you tied it all together with the part about venturing into those warm seductive waters of Satan’s realm..Anytime a Christian stands firm in his/her faith, and is willing to give testimony to that is always a good thing. I often question why missionaries called to spread the Good News, will go to countries where thier very lives are in danger if caught with so much as a Bible in thier possesion. And how a mother could encourage her child to go on these missions half a world away. The differences being…1) Blessed be the one who lays down thier life for the Lord… and 2) You can not testify to a shark. Don’t go there! Thanks for a wonderful review..
LikeLike
I really want to see this movie.
However, I am deathly afraid of sharks. In fact, if I ever saw one in person without a barrier between me and it, being eaten would be the least of my worries (ish). I’d probably stroke out and already be dead by the time it reached me.
Did I mention that I’m deathly afraid of sharks?! I’ve had this reoccuring nightmere ever since I was a little girl that I was being eaten by a shark – wakes me up in a cold sweat every time.
i.hate.sharks,
LikeLike