I recently saw the movie, “Whip It.”
I'm pretty particular about time invested in a movie. It needs to have a constructive message and, for awhile, this one was iffy. The teen, Bliss, was lying to her parents, and lying about her age to her new friends in the brutal contact sport of roller derby, and generally making decisions that were leading to unhappy results.
The redemption came when, after bitter words with her parents, Bliss left home. The women on her racing team were older and tough; yet one of her new friends took her in, offering this kindly advice, “It sounds like you’re being selfish in your relationship with your mom. If my son lied to me the way you lied to your parents, he wouldn't run away because I'd break his legs.
Turning to her little boy, she smiled warmly, "Just joking!"
Back to Bliss, "Just because you have a new family (with me and my son) doesn’t mean you should leave your old family.”
Bliss’s indiscretions had also gotten her best friend arrested for underage drinking, followed by her new boyfriend cheating on her. Bliss returned home sad and wiser.
Genuine love in the family allowed space for Bliss and her parents to talk and listen to one another, and move forward. Everyone struggled to, and did, rise to the occasion.
What I took away is the important message that unselfish love makes a solid basis for relationships. It creates space for apology, repentance, and forgiveness. When all the elements are there, love supports moving past mistakes into stronger relationships.
A friend once told me, "It's all right to disagree, if we disagree in love." I think "Whip it" reached that conclusion.
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