Overcomer Film

Intro:

Overcomer is a Christian movie in theaters since August 23. The main issue that the film tackles is identity, and one's struggle to finding that identity. The movie illustrates that struggle through the perspectives of a former basketball now cross country coach, and a 15 year old talented runner that is struggling with her own demons. I don't want to spoil the movie completely so I recommend that you watch it. As a runner, I really wanted to watch it after learning what it was about, and as a Christian, I was really looking forward to seeing what the message of the film would be. It didn't disappoint. The recurring theme of the movie is identity, which is something I've struggled with. I'm sure we all have before. Overcomer is a movie that I really enjoyed. I liked it so much that I had to watch it twice. The movie had several heart warming scenes that brought me to tears. This isn't a film review so much as it is a reflection on scenes I thought were important.

What Do You Allow to Define You?

Who are you? Who are you when everything is stripped away? The movie asks the question several times, both explicitly and implicitly .

One of the protagonists, John Harrison is challenged with that question of identity. John is the coach of his school's very successful basketball team. He views himself as a basketball coach, and a very good one at that. The shut down of a large local factory triggers a chain of events that sets the plot in motion. Many of the community's jobs were tied to that factory and as a result, the basketball team ceases to exist. John ends up as the coach of a sport he knows nothing about with only one athlete. To top it all off, the factory closure leads to a 10% pay cut for John and his wife. Okay, you get the point. His world was falling apart while his identity was being stripped away.

Where do you find your identity? The movie answers that question. Your identity is tied to whatever you give your heart to. Who are you? Who is Ryan Tsang? I've personally struggled with that question throughout my life. When I was young, I had no idea who I was or what I was good at. When I joined cross country, I was so happy that God had allowed me to be a part of a community. When I finally became good at it, I thought I found my identity. But without running, who was I? In the movie, John is asked who he is by his new friend Thomas Hill. He first says basketball coach. When pressed again, he then says husband and father. When pressed harder, he then says history teacher. It isn't until he is asked four times that he says he is a Christian. It becomes clear that Christian wasn't the number one priority on his list. He was following Christ and a good man, but he wasn't living out his convictions to the fullest. The movie really hit home for me. If I was asked that question, I don't know how many times it would be before I said a Christian. I've always been a "Christian," but I've admittedly been more of a closet Christian. I used to post bible verses on Instagram in middle school and was more outspoken about my faith. Shamefully, I stopped that after being made fun of for doing it. I was content with my identity just being that of a rapidly improving runner. And that's fine too. It's okay to be serious about running or anything really, but don't let it be everything. Yes I'm a runner, but I'm also a Christian. Those two things give me my identity as a "Kingdom Runner". God's not saying you can't have that other identity. He's saying don't let that other identity define you. As seen in the movie and as we see in our own lives, those other identities can be taken away. The one identity that can never be taken away is your identity as a "child of God." So he's saying put your faith in him, and you will never feel unfulfilled.

Who You Say I Am

The film further builds upon this theme of identity when Hannah gives her life to Christ. Not long after meeting her father for the first time, Hannah has a conversation with the school's principal and her silent guardian Olivia Brooks. After seeing the internal conflict Hannah was struggling with, Olivia invites Hannah to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior. After accepting, they pray and Olivia tells Hannah to read Ephesians Chapters 1 and 2 and write down all the things He says you are as a follower of Christ. As a follower of Christ, you are:

• Blessed

• Chosen

• Redeemed

• Forgiven

• Sealed

• Adopted

• Loved

• Saved

• God's Child

Hannah never had her parents in her life and because of that, she felt rejected by God. After all, what kind of God would take away a child's parents? What kind of God would let any of us struggle and go through hardships? The answer is a loving God. Because God loves us so much, he allows us to be broken. Hannah had once let that bitterness keep her from a relationship with Jesus. In the beginning of the movie, we are introduced to Hannah as she steals headphones from a boy at a park. It's revealed that Hannah has stolen quite a bit. She even stole John's watch when he put it down at cross country practice. Whether she knew it or not, her identity was that of a thief. When she gave her life to Jesus, she discovered that burden was no longer on her shoulders. That identity was no more. She felt the happiness and freedom that a relationship with Christ brings. The movie depicted that with a very touching and tear inducing scene accompanied by the Hillsong Worship song "Who You Say I Am." Soon after, Hannah returns all the things she stole in another tear inducing scene accompanied by Lauren Daigle's hit song "You Say."

I admittedly was brought to tears during these scenes. The movie did a great job of choosing uplifting songs to accompany major scenes that just happened to be some of my favorites. But deeper than that, the message moved me. Yes, it's just a movie and yes, the actual story-line is fictional, but the themes and issues touched upon are very real and very applicable to our own lives. Despite everything Hannah did, she was forgiven and redeemed. In that same way so are we. We've all done things we regret. If you've ever felt too far gone, you're not. You're forgiven. If you've ever felt not good enough or worthless, you are worth it. You're blessed and you're chosen. If you're ever in doubt, read Ephesians Chapters 1 and 2.

Nobody is saying that life is going to be perfect and free of hardship. Life will be hard. But who or what has first place in your heart, and in who do you find your identity? Your answer to that question could change your whole world.

"Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one that believes that Jesus is the son of God."

1 John 5:5 (NIV)

Songs from the Movie:

"Overcomer" by Mandisa

"You Say" by Lauren Daigle

"Who You Say I Am" by Hillsong Worship