221: MOVIE REVIEW - The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry

 

The secrets of Jonathan Sperry is a 2008 Christian film directed by Rich Christiano. It is a movie about a man and how his fellowship with God affected a number of lives in his neighbourhood.

The movie had its setting in the summer of 1970. While three friends: Dustin, Mark and Albert were making plans for what to do with their summer, they discover that Dustin has a crush on Tanya, a schoolmate who works in the diner owned by her dad. Dustin builds a relationship with Mr Sperry after mowing his lawn. Mr Sperry attended the same church with Dustin and was an old man at this time. He had lost his wife in an accident 4 years earlier.

The dilemma of having a crush on a girl and being unable to express it became an issue for Dustin. Dustin, Albert and Mark paid Mr Sperry a visit and Albert, who wasn’t so good at keeping secrets made Mr Sperry know about Dustin’s feelings. Mr Sperry shared his experience of having a crush on a girl and then invites the three boys to a bible study. Afterwards, it became the custom for the three friends to come over to Sperry’s for bible study. Along the line, Mr Sperry realizes that his neighbour, Mr Baynes, had a bushy lawn as he couldn’t mow it himself. He put Dustin up to the job of mowing the lawn, committing to pay for his services. However, he told Dustin not to let Mr Baynes know that he was the one behind the idea. It was such a kind gesture from Mr Sperry.

Mr Sperry comes to know about Nick, a boy in the neighbourhood who delighted in bullying the other children. The three friends hated and dreaded Nick for his character. Mr Sperry encouraged the children to love Nick and pray for him to change. He did this as he took them to the cemetery to listen to the headstones. Nick surrendered to Jesus after an experience at the restaurant with Mr Sperry. The three friends had taken Mr Sperry to the restaurant and Nick met him there. Mr Sperry, who knew Nick’s father, told Nick the story of his conversion. Nick gave a thought to the way he lived and decided to have a change of life. He became friendly to all that he met and began attending the study with Dustin, Albert and Mark at the Sperry’s.

After a failed attempt to ask Tanya out, Dustin decides to write his heart to Tanya. Tanya, who was already thinking of how to turn him down, was surprised at the content of the note. He encouraged Tanya to read the bible and get to know God. This paid off as Tanya began to read her bible. Tanya became a Christian 6 months later.

Dustin arrived at Mr Sperry's house one afternoon to find that a crowd of sympathizers had gathered. Mr Sperry had passed on. The loss of Mr Sperry was such a painful experience for him. He even lost his appetite. During that time, however, Mr Baynes paid Dustin a visit. He had found out that it was Mr Sperry that was behind the mowing of his lawn. He also made Dustin agree that he would mow his lawn for a pay. Dustin was astonished on finding out from his mum that Mr Baynes was the cause of Mr Sperry’s wife’s death. She died in an accident caused by Mr Baynes. It was so dumbfounding to discover the largeness of Mr Sperry’s heart.

Dustin was then moved to continue the work that Mr Sperry had begun. The bible study that had 4 children had grown into a larger group in the hands of Mr Sperry.

Mr Sperry’s life left such a legacy in its last days. Dustin, Mark, Nick, Albert, Tanya, Mr Baynes, and others who were not mentioned got to know the LORD through the efforts of Mr Sperry both directly and indirectly. I must say that this is a touching story. I am seeing this movie for the second time and I still had to use my handkerchief. I would list some of the lessons I learnt:

1. Mr Sperry had a kind heart. He had a heart that was rather willing to give than to withhold. He was willing to give, not just for what he would gain but for the blessedness of giving. It showed in the way he treated all who came his way. From the lemonades to the chocolates to the dollar bills.
2. Mr Sperry understood our nature as human beings. He could relate with others around him. This opened a way for him into the heart of the three friends when they talked about Dustin’s feelings for Tanya. Identifying with our human nature makes us natural people and makes it easy for us to share in the joys and challenges of others around us. Hebrews 4:15 makes us know that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin.”
3. Mr Sperry had an understanding of the urgency of sharing the gospel. His regular visits to the cemetery may have aided this. He knew that people needed to hear the gospel and it affected the way he handled the task. In 2Cor 5:11 Paul tells the Corinthians “Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience”.
4. Mr Sperry was creative in the way he presented the truth of the gospel. He used games and so on as illustrations in this case. Some creativity may help the gospel to be more realistic to those that listen to it. In Col 1:28 Paul says, “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.”
5. Another lesson about Mr Sperry is that he had a close fellowship with God himself. The extent to which you can truly affect people is the extent to which you know God and have fellowship with him. If you must effectively influence the lives around you, you have to be really intimate with God.
6. Mr Sperry had much love within him. This probably affected the way he lived his life. You could see the testimony that Mr Baynes gave about him. Mr Baynes said that if he knew any Christian in town, it was Mr Sperry. Mr Sperry still looked after those things that belonged to Mr Baynes even after Baynes had helped in taking away what Sperry considered most precious. In 1Cor 13:8 Paul says, 1 Cor 13:8 “Love never fails.” It is such an important lesson for us to learn. The measure of a man is the measure of the love that is within him.

The story of Mr Jonathan Sperry is a very profound one for us. What grips me here is that this is a reality that is obtainable in our day. As long as we are intimate with God and usable in His hands, we have so much potential to affect the lives around us. A city on a hill cannot be hidden; even if it is a quiet city.

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Written by Chibuikem Okeke