After watching the movie tonight, I learned the background of that scene. John (played by Owen) was in fact running after Marley (the puppy) who suddenly got loose from the hands of admiring passerbys. It was not a carefree run. In fact, as a result, John was scolded by the person who caught Marley. He was warned to put the puppy on a leash until trained for it might do something that will ban dogs from that particular beach.
Life in a way is like having a pet. We sometimes make a decision to get one because it looked cute or felt good at that time. We do not always think about the consequences that they would bring. Yeah, I know, this was the subject of a previous blog. But watching the movie made it more real to me. I, too, have been guilty of making that decision. I adopted Pretzel, a cat, because I hated the idea that it would be put to sleep. I did not realize then that Pretzel would require a lot of food and unholy feeding time.
Jenny (or Jennifer Aniston) verbalized in the movie (sorry for spoilers!) that no one really prepares people for what having pets, getting into marriage or bearing kids would entail. Each decision required her to give up so much. It was the same for John. He felt that responsibilities made him give up a great dream.
In the same scene that Jenny said that she gave up so much, she also declared that she would not change the choices she made. The crazy things that Marley did are the same things that made them love him so much. It was the same thing for her marriage. The difficult things that life can bring are the same one we would treasure. It’s what makes life worth living.
Marley and Me is not only about dogs. It is a glimpse of how choices could totally change lives. True, John and Jenny seemed like they had it easy. Real life would be more complicated and challenging. There would be more fights, more misunderstandings, more tears. Especially if God is not the center on which the marriage is founded.
The movie dealt with too many themes that some would consider it as incoherent. But isn’t life a mélange of so many things happening all at the same time? And life can be incoherent when you don’t know the purpose of the things you are doing.
It is a good reminder again that each one of us really need to think and pray a lot about our choices. From getting dogs, looking for new jobs, tying the knot and having babies.
Before I end, I have to mention that John said he often surprises himself. I have to state though that it is God who often surprises us. Because it is Him who knows us best and what is best for us.
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