The Awakening (Poem)

"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;" --John 11:25

Welcome! I am really excited to discuss today the moving 1990 film, Awakenings. Starring Robin Williams and Robert de Niro, it is inspired by the true story of a doctor named Oliver Sacks who, for a brief time, was able to awaken patients who had been nearly-comatose for decades.

While I was skeptical about Awakenings at first, I found myself deeply impacted by the story and by Williams' character Dr. Sayer, whose empathy and enduring compassion were deeply touching in the Oscar-nominated performance.

In fact, I think that the empathy of Dr. Sayer's character is the most beautiful part of the entire narrative. A lot of people gave up on the patients seemingly trapped in the caverns of their minds. Instead of seeing through them and moving on with distaste, as so many other physicians had, Dr. Sayer stopped and approached them with tenderness and kindness. His gentleness and humble heart are deeply moving in the film and speak, in a small way, of the beautiful and tender heart of our Savior. In his book Gentle and Lowly, author Dane Ortland describes the heart of Christ as incredibly tender and merciful. Ortland writes:

“The cumulative testimony of the four Gospels is that when Jesus Christ sees the fallenness of the world all about him, his deepest impulse, his most natural instinct, is to move toward that sin and suffering, not away from it.”

God's heart moves toward us in beautiful, unshakable, undeserved mercy, paid for by Jesus. He reached out and touched the untouchables, the sinners, the outcasts. He moved to us.

Dr. Sayers role in the lives of his helpless patients creates a powerful image of Christ's compassion, grace, and power to save sinners like me. Unlike the patients who were awakened from sleep, followers of Jesus experience a more dramatic change: the miracle of being brought from spiritual death to life.

No matter what season you find yourself in right now--whether you are tired or sad or joyful or weary, I hope you rediscover deep comfort in the heart of Jesus. May you reflect and rest in His love for you, and dive further into your relationship with Him as we enter 2022.

THE AWAKENING

He took them gently by the hand Slack, frozen, gnarled, and weak Yet his nail-pierced grip of love Drew them kindly to their feet

Eyes blinked open and smiles grew This was their Savior, that they knew And they strongly walking, leaned on He Who brought them from their reverie

The heart of love, the bonds of grace Led them with glory from that place Where they had so long lain in slumber For days they could no longer number

And now the sunrise dawned, it seemed And gave them hope they'd never dreamed

From that wintry, endless tomb That trapped them for years in endless gloom Now they left that familiar room The door thrown open by the One Who called them daughters, named them sons

Now they were at last quite free All was colorful, for eyes now see Him leading them dancing by the hand Into that joyous, uncharted land

Loosened, happy lips now sing Their songs of many splendored things That the Savior can new things make

And tell dead hearts: Arise, awake.

Image credit: Unsung Films

Additional references: Hendrich, S. The Awakenings Reflection, 2021. Accessed 1/16/2022.