MKE – Week 14: Lie?? ‘The Good Lie”
What is a lie? 1: to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive. She was lying when she said she didn’t break the vase. He lied about his past experience. 2: to create a false or misleading impression. Statistics sometimes lie. The mirror never lies.
Our homework assignment was to watch 1 of a few movie choices about persistence. I choose to watch, ‘The Good Lie‘.
Four Sudanese children are orphaned after their village is massacred in the Second Sudanese Civil War. Consequently, they make an arduous and dangerous trek through the plains, enduring hardship, death and sacrifice all the way until they reach safety in a refugee camp in Kenya. Years later, these youths are among 3600 selected for resettlement in America, only to have the one girl among them sent to Boston, while the three boys must to make a new life in Kansas City. Together, these young men must adjust to an alien culture even as the emotional baggage of their past haunts them. However, these newcomers, and their new friends like employment counselor Carrie Davis, strive to understand each other in this new home, as they make peace with their histories in a challenge that will change all their lives.
The story starts with a scene of a small village that comes under attack by militants burning houses, killing people, stealing their goods and jewelry. Only a few children survive. The oldest has to step up and is labeled their Chief. It is his job to keep everyone safe, guide them, inspire them and stay positive. (This course – Mark J, The Fab D, Lori, Gi Gi, Derek and all of the guides)(MMA – Master Mind Alliance) Their mission is to get to Kenya. They follow the rising sun. (POA – Plan of Action)They ran into a huge group of people walking. They joined the group. They met 2 other young men, named, Paul and Jeremiah. Jeremiah found strength in the Bible that he carried. (PMA – Positive Mental Attitude) One night, while they stopped to rest, they were all sleeping close to one another. In the morning, middle aged boy, Mamere stands up and some soldiers saw him. He quickly ducked back down and his eldest brother, Theo told everyone to be quiet. Then immediately stood up, put his hands behind his head and walked towards the soldiers and told them he was alone. He was lost. (Lie or Good Lie) Theo is immediately named the Chief. The remaining 4 children continued their way to Kenya. They found strength in sticking together. (MMA – Master Mind Alliance) While at the refugee camp, they lost a brother.
Years past, and they finally were on a list to be relocated to the USA. They were going to Boston but the girl, Abigail had to go to Kansas because there was not a family to sponsor her in Boston. The boys met, Carrie who helped them get jobs. Mamere had aspirations and dreams of becoming a doctor and started going to school.
There was a scene when Mamere walked all the way to Carrie’s go give her oranges as a sign of gratitude. (4 Promises – Wherever I go, I bring a gift. I may bring a compliment, prayer, trinket, flower……but I promise I will give something to every person I encounter.) Another scene was with Jeremiah who was working at a grocery and was taking out old groceries to throw them away. He saw a homeless lady digging in the trash and gave her fresh groceries. His manager walked out and asked him what he was doing. He said, ‘It is a sin, not to give to those in need.’ (I promise to give the hope for Joy, affluence, kindness and Love, consciously with every encounter, regardless of the brevity.)
Carrie made a decision to host, Abigail so the family could be together. She made a sacrifice, cleaned her house and changed her lifestyle. She found her place. (DMP – Definite Major Purpose)
Towards the end of the movie, Mamere went back to the refugee camp because they had reason to believe that Theo had made it to the camp. He found Theo. After that, he had to find an Embassy that would grant Theo permission to leave the refugee and go to the USA. He could not find an Embassy to grant him permission, so he lied to Theo. On the day they were leaving to head back to the USA. He told Theo to pretend that he was him. He got through security and was on his way to the USA to be with his family. Mamere, told Theo a GoodLie. He sacrificed himself for his brother. He was repaying the favor back to his brother.
The family was back together, Brothers and Sisters. (MMA – Master Mind Alliance)
Two beautiful songs at the end of the movie, “I’ll find a way”, by Nicolay Sereba, Vincent Dery, feat. Emmanuel Jal.
Lookin’ up toward the friendly skies
Everything that I thought I had,
Taken right before my eyes.
Show me grace, make me strong, let me feel it!
But I’ll find a way.
Said I’ll find a way
The sun won’t shine forever. I’d rather have fun… Now or never We fall and get up, we fall and get up, we fall and get up