Lincoln

Who could attempt to tell the story of our 16th president, a story so complex about a man so intricate, even enigmatic, and yet so revered?  Who could attempt to tell this story and succeed?  Tony Kushner, Steven Spielberg, and Daniel Day-Lewis.

After months of anticipation, we had the privilege of seeing Lincoln today.  Words can hardly describe how it impacted us.

The masterful screenplay highlighted a particular part of Lincoln's story – the passing of the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery at the tail end of the Civil War – yet made it clear how Lincoln's personal history combined with our country's history could, together, culminate into the present struggle to pass a piece of  legislation that was so controversial that the Union government was nearly as divided as our war-torn country itself.  The task of telling such a story, and telling it well, should seem insurmountable.  Yet Tony Kushner crafted a screenplay that is both brilliant and poignant, and Steven Spielberg visualized and showcased this era of crisis in a way that left us speechless by the end, and Daniel Day-Lewis brought Lincoln to life that we might see this humble leader right before his death.  This is a powerful story, and this film told it well.

While I could write at length why we deeply appreciated this movie, let me say one last thing: we valued its portrayal of Congress at the time.  Although a room full of bickering, sniveling politicians is an irritating sight, it was powerful to witness that amidst the ugliness of politics something good and beautiful and just and necessary could happen: the abolishment of slavery.  Lincoln's work was Kingdom work, and I praise God for raising up this leader during this embattled part of our nation's history.