Sermon On The Deer Hunter

Larry Crabb, an American author and counselor once remarked: "God is always working to make His children aware of a dream that remains alive beneath the rubble of every shattered dream." Romans 8:28 reminds us: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Rubble is frequently considered a potent, sombre, and poignant symbol that conceals the shattered dreams of life. The film: “The Deer Hunter” (1978) is widely considered as a visceral and heartfelt examination of existence, albeit in a fictional storyline. It particularly focuses on the working-class experience, the deep impact of trauma, and the resilience of human connection. For some, life through its vicissitudes is often considered: “bitter-sweet.” It often encompasses both elements of sweetness and bitterness. The film amalgamates areas of love, friendship, lost opportunity and shattered dreams, specifically centering on how conflict can destroy the innocence, friendships, and future prospects of a group of working-class American steelworkers. It acts as a sobering meditation on the psychological, physical, and emotional scars of war, rather than just portraying a demeaning combat movie. It highlights the controversies of life.

Dreams are often shattered due to major disappointments, unexpected setbacks, and the harsh collision of idealized expectations with reality. They represent unfulfilled aspirations that can be broken or damaged by life-altering events like war, divorce, loss of opportunity, or health issues. Ultimately, these moments often result from uncontrollable circumstances or shifting personal priorities. "Cavatina," the iconic classical guitar piece composed by Stanley Myers and famously performed by John Williams, features prominently throughout the film. Its renaissance serves to offset and soothe the brutalities of life. Its primary purpose is to provide a poignant, emotional, and melodic counterpoint to the film's vicious depiction of war and psychological trauma. According to many spiritual and faith-based perspectives, God and music are both considered powerful sources of healing, comfort, and restoration when facing the disappointment of shattered dreams in life.

No one makes it through life without some cherished dreams crumbling; this is often considered a normal part of the human experience rather than a failure of personal strength. It may be viewed as a definitive stage of individualistic growth. It can sometimes be seen as a catalyst for re-evaluation and may often be compared to “Russian Roulette.” While feeling "weak" or defeated is common when dreams shatter, this state can lead to deeper, new, and sometimes more adventurous dreams. The film relates to God through Christian allegory, Russian Orthodox imagery, and themes of brokenness, using the characters', particularly Michael's, journey to explore faith in the face of violent trauma. The film contrasts the community's stable spiritual life in Pennsylvania with the chaos of Vietnam, concluding with a poignant, debated, and communal rendering of "God Bless America".

Weakness or shattered dreams inherently require inner strength to be overcome, managed, or transformed. Strength is the essential remedy for physical, mental, or skill-based limitations. While weakness highlights a deficiency, it often serves as a catalyst for developing resilience, with strength increasing through acknowledgement and working on weak areas. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, God tells the Apostle Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Paul embraced his "thorn in the flesh" - a personal limitation or suffering - realizing that when he was weak, God’s strength was most evident, allowing him to boast in his limitations so Christ’s power could rest on him.

The Deer Hunter features prominent scenes of deer hunting, which serve as crucial metaphors for the characters' innocence, camaraderie, and connection to nature before and after their experiences in the Vietnam War. These scenes, often focusing on the philosophy of "one shot," are filmed in the Cascade Mountains in Washington State rather than the Pennsylvania Alleghenies. The hunting trips in the film contrast with the chaos of war, representing the characters' moral center and humanity. It is said that lost opportunity can create new opportunity. The film could be interpreted as being about opportunity in several distinct ways, spanning the characters' personal, emotional, and existential choices before and after their traumatic experiences in the Vietnam War. According to various theological perspectives and biblical teachings, God can transform liabilities - such as weaknesses, past mistakes, or desperate circumstances - into valuable assets. In "God's economy," weaknesses are not just deficiencies to be hidden, but are often used to showcase His strength and to develop "faith working through love."

Opportunity in weakness could be considered the potential for growth, self-improvement, and resilience that arises from recognizing limitations. By acknowledging these areas, individuals and organizations can turn vulnerabilities into catalysts for developing new skills, fostering innovation, and building stronger character. The Bible contains numerous stories where weakness, inadequacy, or failure becomes the precise opportunity for God’s power to be displayed. A central, foundational, and explicit example is the story of Paul’s "Thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Paul, a prominent apostle, suffered from a persistent, painful "thorn in the flesh" - a "messenger of Satan" meant to harass him and keep him humble. He does not specify what it was, allowing it to represent any intense limitation (physical, emotional, or situational). It reminds us: “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”