George, now a 24 y/o young man with Down syndrome, still loves Veggie Tales. However, he’s quite discriminating when it comes to format. For some reason unknown to me or for that matter anyone else, he prefers and insists that they be VHS. Beyond that, the color of the tape must be black-not that nice lime green hue. The release date especially matters and the label on the tape is quite important. I have had to scour thrift stores and eBay for VHS movies that meet all of these requirements.
Multiple questions about this list of essentials for a simple movie run through my mind-especially the label! Why on earth does a label on a movie case make so much difference?! In George’s mind that label conveys what is included in that movie. The label tells the story. If the label is different it isn’t going to tell the same story. Try as I may to convince him that a release date of 2000 on a particular title is the same movie as the one that is released in 1998 are wasted words. My attempt at an explanation falls on deaf ears. If the label is a different color or shape, the movie is not the same. That label matters.
Evaluating George’s list of needs more closely I use it as a lens to view my life. My “release” date is almost 69 years ago now. I have countless experiences that have given me labels and tell my story. Mother, divorcee, wife, daughter, sister, fat, stupid, not enough, etc. I have laughed and cried, been married and divorced, birthed babies and buried parents. The list and labels go on and on.
Far too long I allowed some of those labels to bring shame and feelings of isolation and rejection. Some of those labels defined who I was driving me to make the decisions I made, crafting a fractured story. It wasn’t until I met Jesus (and was “re-released”) that my labels or names changed and along with that, my story. A story full of hope and purpose. Being forgiven and chosen changes ones perspective-completely rewriting a story.
It turns out that George’s insistence on a particular label is indeed important and does change the story.
