FLY AWAY HOME (1996)

Directed by: Carol Ballard
Written by: Robert Rodat, Vince McKewin
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Starring: Jeff Daniels, Anna Paquin, Dana Delany
Rated: PG

About the film:
When a woman dies in an automobile accident, her thirteen-year-old daughter moves from New Zealand to Canada to stay with her estranged father. While there, she discovers a nest of goose eggs which were abandoned by their mother. She watches over them and bonds with them only to find that she must be the one teach them how to migrate south for the winter.

Movie Quote:
“Broken promises are the worst. Better not to promise anything.”
Susan Barnes (Dana Delany) in Fly Away Home (1996)

Bible Quote:
“When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.”
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 (NIV)


Commentary:
We’ve all heard that “words are cheap.” This is a popular worldly phrase that is proven untrue in the spiritual realm. Words actually come at a dear price. The words we speak have a definite impact… and that impact could be either positive or negative. They can be words designed to edify and bless or “fiery darts” designed to hurt and tear down.

God tells us that we shall one day appear before Him and give account for every idle word we utter. (Matthew 12:36) Therefore, it would be advisable for us to think before we open our mouths. When God “speaks,” the Word that is issued forth is truth. It is dependable, trustworthy, and reliable. Should we aspire to anything less?

We are told to put away lying and speak truth to every man, letting our speech be seasoned with salt (representing commitment.) Vowing a vow and keeping it is the sign of a mature, faithful person of unbroken integrity. Such a person pleases God and is deserving of respect in this world of meaningless “promises” and blatant lies.

Questions to consider while watching the film:
1. What happens when someone breaks a promise? What are the consequences that come from it?
2. Migrating geese are used as an example in management and business seminars. What lessons can we derive from observing the behavior of geese?

Michael Elliott
http://screensermon.blogspot.com