In a world filled with violence, disrespect, hatred, and meanness, the movie, The Hundred-Foot Journey, beautifully illustrates the fact that reaching out in friendship to people you feel threatened by can be inspiring, healing, and transformational.  It vividly portrays the evil of violence and prejudice and the power of kindness, humility, repentance, and forgiveness.

Go see it!  But don’t stop there.  Why not take a 100-foot journey outside of your comfort zone and make friends with people from another culture or ethnic group?

And if you are really brave, visit a support group when people are open, humble, and vulnerable with one another and experience the power of love and kindness in action.  The First Century church was originally a support group where everyday people shared their victories and burdens with one another and encouraged one another in love.  (See 1 Corinthians 14:26.)

However, the church gradually shifted from a support group to a religious performance featuring the same man on a platform week after week.  But now, in the Twenty-First Century, around the world God is restoring support group style church where ordinary people show and tell what God has done.

If you are close to Nashville, Tennessee, your 100-foot journey can be to The Salvation Army Berry Street, 225 Berry St. 37207, where regular people share from their heart as they feel prompted by the Spirit.  Come see on Sunday mornings at 10:45 and/or Tuesday nights at 6:30.

The Hundred-Foot Journey stars Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Daval, and Charlotte Le Bon.   It was produced by Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, and Juliet Blake and is based on the novel The Hundred-Foot Journey written by Richard C. Morais.