So, who has seen Dan In Real Life? If you have, you will definitely support me in saying what a FABULOUS movie it is. If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing this family comedy, then go see it. Now.

The protagonist, Dan, is an average man single-handedly raising three daughters. If you know my dad, you know how much he resembles Steve Carrell (who plays Dan). And if you know him as well as I do, then you will definitely see the multiple similarities between their personalities. His daughters also remind me of my sisters and I (I’m the protective older sister who’s a bad driver, my youngest sister Katie is the middle sister who is loud and filled with fire, and my younger sister Julia is the youngest one who has a huge heart and everyone adores). Pretty much, the family in this movie is my family if I had no mother.

Anyway, Dan is just trying to get by, support his girls, and possibly find a girlfriend/wife. He meets this amazing woman at a bookstore, only to find out that she is his brother’s girlfriend. Marie (the name of the woman he met) ends up ditching Dan’s brother to be with Dan. At first, Dan’s brother (played by Dane Cook) is extremely upset, and his whole family is enraged at Dan. But eventually, they learn to forgive him, and the movie has a very happy ending, which I always love.

So I bet you’re wondering how this could possibly relate to God. Just go with me here. At Vertical Impact, we are most definitely a family, no arguments about it. However, we all do wrong things, and often upset and disappoint others. Obviously, we know that if we ask God for forgiveness, he is going to grant it and wipe away our misdeeds. But I believe that it is more difficult for humans to forgive that effortlessly. We hold grudges more intensely, for longer periods of time. However, as a faith family, shouldn’t we be the first people to forgive each other? The world is a harsh and unforgiving place, holding resentment against other people for far too long. So, if the world refuses to forgive easily, our youth ministry should be a refuge, a place where all people can come and be sure that they can be treated equally and have all past.

Just like Dan’s family forgave him of his misdoings, we should forgive our fellow “family members” of their sins, no matter the severity. Vertical Impact is a place where all are welcome and all are forgiven, no matter what. Come join our family!