Hey Beautiful People! It’s been a while. I did nothing interesting with my short break. Well…I made new friends and maybe I’ll write about that soon. But I want to talk about something else.
Remember my short story? It actually got more views than I expected. Three weeks ago, a young man buzzed me saying he was a cinematographer and he would love to turn my short story into a short movie. He said he loved the message it was trying to pass across and all that. Of course I was thrilled. I agreed to the terms and agreement. We began interacting and I realized he was a very moral person and a “CHILD OF GOD” – which was a good thing at least it made me assume he wasn’t a conman, plus I had already done a background check. The short story was going to be pro-bono – no monetary benefit.
Few days later, he buzzed me saying he didn’t like the end of MY story and he suggested I changed it – THE WOMAN SHOULD NOT LEAVE. I said No. The whole essence of my story is to teach one lesson : LEAVE ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS. I also made him understand that I wasn’t just concentrating on the “Christian Woman”. When I was writing that story I had women from all religions at the back of my mind. Because it’s so easy for us to say “Pray to Jesus and he would save you from that relationship and turn the heart of your husband…” But what about the Hindu woman that doesn’t believe in Jesus? And the Muslim woman? And the Buddhist? But yet still face marital abuse? Do we as Christians now say they have no hope because they are not praying to our GOD?
When I explained these things to him he finally understood and said my clarifications had made him see things differently. He then said he was going to begin the “shooting” soonest, all he had to do was give his “actors” the script to read.
So one day I’m dreaming about my movie already when I get a call from him.
Me: Hey what’s up? Have you started already? (you could feel my excitement)!
Cinematographer : No. I’m sorry. My people said they won’t act. (Since it was pro-bono, he made use of his religious friends.) They said It’s not in line with everything they believe in. And your story only helps to promote the disintegration of families.
I was weak!
Couldn’t they see?! Couldn’t they understand? Whatever happened to reasoning and conscience. I also gave him the link to Karen Hunt’ story (The beautiful soul who replied my short story with a personal story). I thought maybe when they read it they’ll have a better understanding. I was wrong. They refused. Said they couldn’t be party to such ideology.
Maybe this line of my story got them scared :
…My mother told me to pray until something happened. I did. Nothing happened.
Anyways, that was how my hopes of getting a movie out of my story died. I have since moved on.
I watched a Nigerian movie recently – KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S GATE. Starring Adesua Etomi and fine Blossom. Adesua was a strong gospel singer in that movie, she and her husband were both gospel Singers. But this FINE husband of hers beat the hell out of her. I was so irritated. Once, he poured coffee on her hair simply because she spilled coffee on his shirt. LEAVE!!! everyone screamed. The Bible said only on the grounds of adultery she replied. This is the case in so many homes. I’m 22 but I think I’ve seen and heard enough to last me a life time.
I strongly believe in prayer and I believe in God. But I also believe in running/leaving and praying for restoration.
God is everywhere. ISN’T HE?
Love xoxo
Adriel©2016
August 16, 2016 at 6:19 am
Very true; and very depressing.
People can be ridiculous about holding onto bad situations; somehow, enduring suffering has become equal to doing what God wants.
Your story will get its airtime soon; hold to that honest truth.
August 16, 2016 at 6:30 am
Very ridiculous! Thank you so much for this.
August 16, 2016 at 11:26 am
I do think You’re missing out something important here…….. If You do not heed God before entering a relationship, why then should You…………(wait a bit……let me go through the whole post once more…… I’m sorry, I’m fresh like that)……. ehen…. As I was saying, You enter a relationship, You got no word from God, maybe its totally ok not to listen to God when You want to leave because of beatings…… Technically, He(God) was neither privy to the intricate details of the relationship, nor invited…. But, that’s just Me……. And, talking about enduring suffering……… Well, what if the Lady just needs to adjust some things character wise? I’m not going to make this sound as if the Man does not need to check His behaviour, my 2cents really is that if a relationship would work without the normal enduring and all, ’em both need to check their attitude…. While the Lady can prolly spend a few more hours in the Prayer room……. But, again, that’s just my 2cents!!!
August 17, 2016 at 11:25 am
How do you explain this to a woman of a different faith?
August 16, 2016 at 7:00 am
This is how people have matched about carrying the banner of religion, all the while trampling on humanity.
Keep preaching your truth, screenplay or not.
August 16, 2016 at 7:02 am
This is how people have matched about carrying the banner of religion, all the while trampling on humanity.
Keep preaching your truth, screenplay or not.
August 16, 2016 at 11:44 am
And Yes, for You Adriel,…………. I don’t really think it’s “nice” to say You believe in prayers but You also believe in running…… It shows some level of inconsistencies…… Something akin to not trusting God fully…… More like I believe in giving out all I earn, but I don’t mind keeping a bit to save for rainy days…….. The faith is not complete…….But, I’m weird and wired like that…… My 2cents
August 16, 2016 at 5:34 pm
Let’s see. I’m in an abusive relationship. I’m also a strong Child of God. I have prayed. Fasted. Done everything… Yet the beatings come. Sometimes I enter into coma, other times I’m admitted for weeks… And you tell me to wait. Stay?! I’ll be dammed to listen to you. I’ll leave his house and pray for him wherever I am. What happens when I die?! He re-marries.
August 17, 2016 at 11:39 am
Faith without work is dead. Thank you. And the running and praying thing was strictly to emphasize the need to leave abusive relationships.
August 16, 2016 at 12:05 pm
Interesting to know that people still hold and maintain strong religious beliefs.
You can’t be Super Man. I ve come to notice something about the 21st century individual – Secularism.
And it’s affecting ‘Christians’ the most.
Truth of the matter is that no other religion would address social issues outside of the tenets of their religion be it, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism even traditionalists.
So if we profess Christianity we should do our best to live within our so-called faith.
Great short story you penned down. Christianity supports separation if the relationship is abusive and life-threatening to any of the spouses but does not support Divorce.
This is why we all have to have our eyes, ears, brain and heart really sharp when we decide to say ‘I do’ and make our marriage vows to someone else.
For better for worse, for richer for poorer, in health and in sickness,… Till death do us part.
August 16, 2016 at 5:29 pm
And we have seen the consequences of some of those religions. Example, Islam. No offence. The Bible didn’t make any reference to Marital Abuse. And even the Holy Spirit gives Common Sense. Ask the people who have been victims and they’ll tell you one thing : THEY ALL HD THEIR EYES, EARS, BRAIN AND HEART REALLY SHARP WHEN THEY SAID “I DO”….
August 16, 2016 at 1:03 pm
Your story will get a chance to be seen and told. Don’t let this get you down. What is for you will come to fruition.
August 16, 2016 at 5:01 pm
Amen. And Thank you so much! 🙂
August 16, 2016 at 5:01 pm
You’re welcome.
August 16, 2016 at 2:09 pm
This issue bothers me so much and you have said my mind darling.
August 16, 2016 at 7:14 pm
I don’t think they had listened to all their human instincts b4 entering such marriage. Yeah people can change from good to worse, (shit happens) , but it’s on rare occasions for someone to change from being a loving-doting husband to an abusive one (Not even head trauma causes that) without showing off any signs during the courtship period? Save they courted for a short time or it was a forced or arranged marriage.
Men do the finding, women make the choice. And women are known to be more sensitive and psychological when it comes to discerning human behavior.
If one was to carry out a forensic examination on abusive marriages, I’d like to say “the devil is always found within the details”
September 4, 2016 at 6:32 am
Well.