479 F-Bombs in 139 Minutes

“Many people wander through life trying to live free of pain and for the next pleasure.” – Os Hillman

(Disclaimer: Today’s devotional discusses some adult-oriented themes. Please be advised.)

I haven’t watched the Academy Awards in more than 30 years and Sunday’s self-indulgent celebration of debasement and debauchery was no exception. How do I know what the Oscars were like if I chose not to tune in? Simple… I read a few news reports and, having done so, felt like I needed to take a long hot shower to wash off the crud.

Anora, a film about a stripper and escort whose short-lived marriage to a rich Russian immigrant is eventually annulled, received five major awards including Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. According to comic Conan O’Brien, who emceed this year’s event, Anora featured 479 F-bombs in just 139 minutes… or one every 17 seconds. The indie film – which was written, directed, produced, and edited by Sean Baker – also features abundant nudity, drug use, and graphic violence.

I have absolutely no plans to see Anora and pity the poor movie reviewers whose job it is to screen films like this in order to warn parents and other moviegoers about its disgusting content. Let’s just say that Anora deserves its R-rating and could very well have been rated NC-17.

Back to Oscar night for a minute and then a transition to Middle America…

Everyone who attended the Academy Awards on Sunday night – in addition to being feted, photographed, and fawned over on the red carpet – received a “swag bag” of goodies valued at more than $200,000. To provide a little context, that’s about four times the average annual salary of an American worker.

Ironically, the luxurious lifestyle enjoyed by the Hollowood elite is bought and paid for by Mr. and Mrs. Middle America… one movie ticket at a time. For whatever reason, people envy these pill-popping philanderers who are on their third, fourth, or fifth marriages and pay for the privilege of watching them play act on the big screen.

My friend, life shouldn’t be about escaping reality or avoiding pain. We are here on this planet for a very brief moment of time to experience God, to serve Him to the best of our ability, and to lead as many other people to Jesus as possible.

That doesn’t mean we can’t have a lot of fun along the way. Just make sure it’s the wholesome kind!

“Then I will say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’” Luke 12:19-20 (BSB)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President