Movies that Inspire – Buck
The story of Buck Brannaman, a documentary movie by Robert Redford named Buck, has so many powerful lessons in life for anxiety, depression, physical/sexual abuse, alcohol or drug abuse or addiction. Here’s a little sample “I live in the moment…You can’t live in 2 places at once. You never forget (the painful past), but you can’t keep living in the past.” An incredible story of the human spirit, once crushed, and now full of joy and purpose.
This movie captures the story of one such man and his remarkable and inspiring journey. You can’t help but be encouraged by the ability of the human spirit to overcome. It’s also another lesson to hold on loosely to how we believe life will turn out when we are in a valleys. Life really is a journey, at times incredibly painful, at times incredibly joy-filled, at times fun, and at times uncertain.
What we know from the studies that have been done is that children raised in an alcoholic family have a significantly greater likelihood of developing an addiction. Likewise, children raised in a home with abuse (physical or sexual) are significantly more likely to continue the cycle of abuse. What those statistics don’t tell us is the power of the human spirit, of the ability of countless children who not only resolve to stop the cycle, but take the next step to impact the world.
In the midst of it all, remember, we don’t know how it will turn out – might actually be better than we fear. Learning from the lives of other people is powerful medicine. When we see children struggle in a family that has abuse and addiction, we worry about what their future might look like. We often look at the painful circumstances around us and struggle to look to a path or a future that is beyond our pain. And yet, there are countless people who have overcome. We all need those people; they inspire us and give us hope when we feel hopeless. So, enjoy a movie and be encouraged.
