A Hallmark Movie Ending

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4 ESV).

Recently a client sat across the table from me and asked, “Is it wrong for me to want a Hallmark movie ending?” I knew immediately what she was really asking. She longed for a “happily ever after” ending in her life. I absolutely recognize, as with her and many others, life can become overwhelming. It can seem as if the pain will never end and we are destined to suffer forever. Like Hallmark Movies, that’s simply not true. Maybe that’s why I’m such a fan of these sappy, feel-good movies. They are predictably poignant but proudly and admittedly always going to bring a happy ending to the story line. Perhaps that’s why the Hallmark Hall of Fame franchise, which dates back to 1951, is the longest running prime time series in television history. “Good taste is good business,” J.C. Hall is the founder of the Hallmark company. Concerning the beginning, he has said, “All I was trying to do was make a living.” He was the son of a bi-vocational preacher, a strong Christian who believed work was an extension of his worship, always stressing excellence in everything he did. It’s no wonder he personally chose the famous company slogan: “When you care enough to send the very best.” J.C. Hall, who passed away at the age of 91, has been gone for 36 years, but fans still eagerly tune in to his movies. Cutting right to the chase, I think it’s because we like happy endings. The predictability of the Hallmark movie script has been ridiculed by many in culturally elite circles. However, When the lights come up at the end of a movie with a happy ending, how can you not help but be encouraged and maybe even see life as it will someday be, when sin and sorrow are gone forever? After all, the real Christmas story is the ultimate feel-good event that puts even the most highly rated Hallmark movie to shame. It’s the greatest story ever told about the greatest man who ever-lived. Let the elites of the world mock those of us who are drawn to good news and happy endings. Someday, perhaps very soon, this world will pass away and with it all the sin and sorrow that wear us down. For now, look up and keep moving. Don’t be afraid to be different. After all, it was the apostle Paul who urged early believers in Rome to “not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (cf. Romans 12:2).