Saratov Approach

I saw the Saratov Approach earlier in the semester while it was playing in the dollar theater. It put a lot of things in perspective for me. I hold grudges over the smallest things, I never love my enemy, and i’m a complainer. While watching this movie I realized how minuscule my problems were. These two young men were serving The Lord and this still happened to them. Once they got past their initial anger they began to try to love their enemy. They prayed for them, with them, and tried to get to know them. They took an interest in the life of their captors, even if they didn’t take an interest back. They had an opportunity to escape, they set up for it, they were prepared, and at the last second they backed out because it wasn’t what was best. Instead they risked their own life instead of taking another. In the end, it was getting to know their captors that helped save the missionaries. They didn’t go home, they served the rest of their two years like they had originally agreed to and not once did they hold a grudge against Heavenly Father. I left this movie feeling heavy. How could I be so angry at Heavenly Father for the trials in my life when these two men were almost killed and still had the courage and faith to complete their missions? It softened my heart to my own problems and made me realize the bigger picture.