Thanks to a free HBO weekend from U-Verse, I saw a good movie called Unbroken. It is a biopic based on Louis Zamperini who was a USA Olympian and a US prisoner of war survivor during WWII. Before being captured by Japanese soldiers, he also survived forty seven days on an inflatable raft after his plane crashed into the ocean. The movie was very hard to watch mainly because of the torture that Zamperini had to endure from the head of the Japanese prison camp, Mutsuhiro “Bird” Watanabe. All of the prisoners were treated poorly, but Watanabe singled Zamperini out for more than two years obviously trying to break him down physically and mentally. At one point in the movie, Zamperini told a fellow prisoner that he was going to kill Watanabe. The other prisoner told him the best revenge would be to survive.

When the war finally ended, Watanabe went into hiding and Zamperini went home. He was no longer a prisoner of war, but he had to deal with the battle in his mind. He had nightmares about killing his captors and also drank heavily. He eventually became a born again Christian which lead him to forgive all of his captors including Watanabe. Later in life, he returned to Japan where he ran a leg in the Olympic Torch relay for the winter games. He tried to meet with Watanabe, but he refused.

I love this story because it shows the power of God. Zamperini was able to forgive Watanabe after receiving Jesus into his heart. By the world’s standards, Zamperini’s unforgiveness was justified, but it was doing more harm to him than good. If you’ve seen the movie, post a comment and tell me what you thought of it.

There will always be people that Satan will use to try to bring us down. We have to forgive even if the person or people don’t apologize. Harboring bitterness and unforgiveness will adversely affect us not the other people. Unforgiveness is just not worth it. Once again, let’s stay focused on the Lord and pray for our enemies. Matthew 5:44 says, But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Remember, I’m not exempt. I’m  . . .

Just blogging it out . . .Oh and Happy Monday Night!! 😀

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