Shane

  
Last week I watched for the first time a classic Western film, Shane, that I really enjoyed.

Shane tells the story of a stranger that comes to stay with a small family of homesteaders near the Grand Teton mountains in Wyoming.  Upon his arrival, he finds that the family is being threatened, along with several other homestead families, by a lawless cattle baron who seeks to drive them off the land so that he can have it for himself.  The film progresses to a final showdown that is truly memorable (spoiler alert for those who haven't seen the film).

To many, Shane is famous for its numerous iconic Western images, from a gunslinging hero dressed all in white to a notorious outlaw dressed all in black to cowboys in spurs dueling on the steps of a saloon.  One critic even claims that one of the most memorable images of the film is the gigantic slice of seemingly perfect apple pie that is served to the story's hero early in the film (which I sure did notice as well).  I think the film is also thought-provoking because the savior of the story is a picture of the Savior that is central to our own lives.

Shane's story is one that mirrors Christ in many ways.  Shane enters the story as a stranger to the homesteaders, yet he immediately made his mark upon the people...there was something different about him that drew others to him, whether they felt respect, awe, peace, fear, or hatred.  He turned away the temptation of riches by the evil rancher in order to protect the lives of those he loved and who loved him. When the homesteaders were unable to protect their own lives and stand up to the one who obeyed no authority, Shane took on the burden of the people and stood in their place in the fight against evil.  And in the ultimate fight, Shane is victorious and walks away having defeated all evil and leaving the homesteaders to enjoy a safer life, encouraging them to grow up "strong and straight" having taken away all the "guns in the valley."  Yet at the same time, it's important to note that Christ is the perfect Savior that Shane only partially reflects.  While Shane rides away, having decided he's destined to be a gunslinger and not a man of the land, Christ promises us that He will return to make all things new and take us to join Him in His Father's house.

I couldn't help but note that several times during the film the homesteaders sing the hymn, Abide With Me.

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

I am thankful that Christ is our Help of the helpless, and He promises not to ride off in the sunset and leave us after winning the fight, but to abide with us.  For those that haven't seen Shane or haven't seen it in a long time, I highly recommend it!