Our humanity

I watched a movie titled ‘Radio’ last night with our children. The movie starring Cuba Gooding Jr. is based on a true story of a high school, its football coach, Harold Jones, and a mentally challenged young man, James Robert Kennedy played be Cuba. I had watched this movie some 10 years ago, but last night I had a greater appreciation for it; as did our children.
The plot of the movie shows this young man played by Cuba taking an interest in a High School’s football practice. Everyday, he slowly walks by the practice field pushing a shopping cart; often times stopping and watching these young men practice with vigor and agility. He was severely mentally handicapped, unable to string a few sentences together; walking with distortions; and fixated by a radio. One day during practice, their football goes over the fence and falls right before Radio. He takes it for himself despite calls for him to return it. In time, some members in the team get a hold of him, beat him up, tie him and hide him in a cupboard. The coach gets to know of this, punishes his team, and gets interested and involved in Radio.

I guess that was the beginning of this coach facing up to some old-time regrets when he had seen someone who was in danger, and yet he had turned his back and not helped. He had regretted it then, and must have waited for another chance to do something about it. And then the chance came in Radio. And so when his team maltreated this young man, not only did he refute their ways, he stood to do something about this young man. He reached out. He helped. He welcomed him in. He wanted to get to know him, understand him (even though this was difficult). You see the coach was white, this young mentally challenged boy was black. Different backgrounds; different paths; different experiences. Yes, culture does not expect any intersection. But it was a chance for this coach to learn; and it seemed if he stayed in his lane, he would not get the chance. But when he stepped out of a myopic setting and got concerned about someone else but himself or the usual, he discovered a new purpose.

What really struck me was how much Radio taught others about humanity. One such instance was when he was presented with so many Christmas presents; rather than Radio keeping them to himself, Radio loads these gifts into his cart and pushed it through his poor neighborhood, distributing one each to every house. And when he was purposely given wrong information, which led him to entering the ladies’ bathroom (which he totally regretted), he still refrained from naming and shaming the student who got him into trouble. Above all, he showed deep love and compassion; taking people for face value, with no cynicism.

This movie reminded me of 1 Corinthians 1:27 – But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. Indeed Radio was just that. He was foolish. He was weak.

The world is always looking for the strong, the wise, the shiny, the bright. They never look at the weak, the foolish, the humble. Radio was the weak, the foolish and the humble. I encourage you to refrain from always looking at the obvious; ask God for what He wants to do. You might just find that He is using those less obvious things; the weak, the foolish and the humble.

Linda Faith
Linda faith is the Editor in Chief of Jewels Magazine. She co-pastors along with her husband Revival Worship Church, Tampa. She is a prolific writer and powerful speaker, inspiring many women to be all God has called them to be. She is the founder of Joy Women’s conference which reaches out to empower, inspire and motivate women in their faith walk.

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