Marty and other lonely people

Who would think that a movie made in 1955 could speak so clearly in 2007? Marty, starring Ernest Borgnine, is a movie about a bachelor in his 30's who still lives with his mother. All of his siblings have married and Marty feels alone, like an outcast. He is successful as a butcher, and even considering a purchase of the shop that he works in. He seems to have friends, but we learn that they are all caught up in an adolescent mind-set that does not allow them to mature emotionally.

Marty is caught between two worlds. On the one hand he is lonely. His mother constantly reminds him that he is the only one of the family is not married. And, in fact, Marty would like to be married. He longs for companionship and a mature relationship. On the other hand, his friends see any relationship that Marty might pursue as a threat to their established order. They do not want to deal with a new member to their group (if Marty gets a relationship), and they do not want to lose Marty (if his new relationship becomes serious).

Marty's other difficulty is that he is very shy. He has a hard time meeting and relating to new people, especially women. That is, until Clara comes along. Clara turns out to be just as plain, lonely and shy as Marty. They are a perfect match. But, the complications with Marty's friends and family do not go away. No one likes Clara. No one wants to lose Marty.

The tension in the movie comes from all the relationship pressures that Marty and Clara have to deal with. And these pressures are significant. They are actually the sort of pressures that you and I deal with quite often. We work hard to make other people happy. And when we make someone else happy, we realize that they do not care if we are happy.

I do not want to give away the movie because I loved it. You should see it right away. But I do want to encourage you in several ways.

• God wants you to be happy. The pressures that you are dealing with need to be secondary to God's plan for your life.
• God made you to be in relationships with other people. Marty had a family. He had friends. And finally, he found his partner.
• It is important to stand strong for truth and right at all times and in all circumstances. The tension that comes in life is secondary to justice.
• Perseverance is one of the most important virtues of life. Never give up.
• Do not lose hope. God has a great idea about where you will end up. Hold on to his promises.