HARVEST OF FIRE (1996)

Directed by: Arthur Allan Seidelman
Written by: Richard Alfieri, Susan Nanus
Studio: Hallmark Home Entertainment
Starring: Lolita Davidovich, Patty Duke, Tom Aldredge
Rated: PG

About the film:
When three barns are burnt down, a female FBI agent comes to a small Amish community to investigate whether or not a hate crime was committed. The tightly-knit community brands her as being an outsider and is uncooperative at first. A widow whose barn was destroyed befriends her and offers her an opportunity to earn their trust.

Movie Quote:
“Heaping blame on yourself is the easy way to deal with a problem. It weighs you down, stops you in your path, is an excuse to do nothing.”
Annie Beiler (Patty Duke) in Harvest of Fire (1996)

Bible Quote:
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ.”
Romans 8:1 (NIV)

Commentary:
Annie Beiler offers some sound advice. The “blame game,” especially when we are pointing the finger at ourselves, does little good. There is no good purpose served by “beating ourselves up” over the mistakes we may have made in the past. In fact, it is detrimental to our growth and health. It prevents us from moving in the direction God would have us go.

We can learn from the mistakes we make but part of that learning must include correcting the mistake and moving on with our lives. Continually dwelling on the mistake will drag us into the past instead of propelling us toward the future.

God’s forgiveness is absolute. As He forgives us, we must learn to forgive ourselves. It would be the same as a prisoner who rejects the pardon of the court and instead chooses to remain locked behind bars.

“Traveling light” through life extends to the emotional “baggage” that we tend to drag behind us. Ridding ourselves of regrets and self-condemnation will free us from the mental “chains” that shackle us to a sin-spotted past. We’ll find that by doing so, we are able to travel further and faster than ever before.

Questions to consider while watching the film:
1. What can we do to avoid falling into the trap of self-condemnation? How do we forgive ourselves?
2. Much of the film concerns itself with explaining a culture different than the ones familiar to us. As ambassadors for Christ, what techniques might we employ when approaching people from a different cultural background?

Michael Elliott
http://screensermon.blogspot.com