Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

What ever else may be on your agenda this coming weekend, it would be well worth your time to take yourself to see the recently released documentary, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”.  It is the story of the philosophy and life of Fred Rogers, known affectionately to generations of children and their parents as “Mr. Rogers”.  With our world in the place we find ourselves today, with all the fighting, angry words and actions towards others, uncivil behavior by so many that gets reported daily and a media that thrives, and even delights, in telling us about all the garbage out there, this film is a soothing balm for the mind and an oasis for the heart and soul.

Unless this is your very first visit to TwoChums, you know we exist to promote “Love, Joy and Abundant Living”.  This isn’t just a tag line to us, it is the way we strive to live our lives and hope to give some encouragement to others wanting lives filled by the same.

Mr. Rogers understood the overwhelming need for such encouragement to be at the center of everything we do, especially as it relates to children.  He understood that at the core of each of us there is still a child who needs to be nurtured and respected, loved and encouraged.

This film isn’t sappy, corny, or some sort of deification of Fred Rogers.  Instead, it is a reminder of the power of a life well lived. An admonishment to each of us to recognize the power of a life where one is true to his or her calling and convictions, can make on a generation.  Not just the life of Fred Rogers, but our lives as well.  We have opportunities every day to live up to what our calling and purpose is.  And we can all do what Mr. Rogers aspired to do “help someone know they are loved and capable of loving”.

Make time to see this film.  It will touch you in places you may have forgotten you had.  Both men and women were heard sniffling in the theatre and tissues were seen out in abundance. As one critic put it, “It’s not a matter of ‘if’ you’ll cry in the movie.  It’s about ‘where’ and ‘how many times’. ”

We don’t say it often..not sure we’ve ever said it before, but this one is a “must see”.  It is really all about “love, joy and abundant living”.