Initially, I resisted going to see the movie, Chocolat, because it appeared to be just another romantic comedy. I was wrong. Last year, the Academy of Motion Pictures nominated Chocolat in the category of Best Film of 2001. This movie contains a serious and danger message, one the church should hear. The story is an extended allegory that begins “Once upon a time”. This little town lives in the grip of rigidity and condemnation. Although the majority of townspeople attend the regular worship, the truth of people’s sad lives and hypocrisy remains untouched. Led by the mayor, the people are schooled in measuring up to moral standards with the notable absence of divine intervention. When woman from outside opens a chocolate shop, everything changes. In one telling scene, the mayor, who by his self-denial has attempted to be upright, falls in exasperation at the foot of the cross of Christ, crying out, “What must I do!!!”. Moments later, by mischance, a morsel of chocolate finds its way to his lower lip. Upon tasting it, he abandons all constraint, devouring the chocolate delights in a ravenous appetite. The delectable chocolate serves as a metaphor for grace. The film reminds us: no one longs for grace more than those trapped by self-righteousness.

What amazed me was the positive response of secular people to this message. For many people, they long for grace but conclude that it will not be found among God’s people. What I mean by grace is the relationship that declares: You belong no matter who you are; where you’ve been; or what you’ve done.

I love telling of two hippies in the early seventies who stumbled into a suburban, upper-middle class church one Sunday morning. These two arrived late and sauntered down the aisle wearing torn blue jeans, tie-dye shirts and no shoes. Unfortunately for them, they couldn’t find a free seat so when they got to the front of the sanctuary, they plopped themselves down on the carpet. The native were growing restless. Finally, one of the leading men in the church, a banker, dressed in a stylist three-piece suit, rose out of his seat and with a deliberate stride headed for the front of the church. “Now, we’ll get some results” were the unspoken thoughts of many a parishioner. This distinguished gentlemen marched down to the front and proceeded to sit on the ground. Where he extended his open Bible to these two young men and more importantly, he extended grace. Today, many people find grace in youth gangs; self-help groups and pubs. Will they find it in us?