Loving your neighbor is easier said than done. For Pastor Jay Reinke, it was not only a state of mind but his heart's desire in how he lives his life.
The Overnighters follows the journey of a man who genuinely wants to serve others in need of work and shelter in a small North Dakota town. The state has seen a rise in out of state unemployed people looking for jobs and those who have struggled to find work, have either turned to crime or have been shunned due to their dark past.
Pastor Reinke believes that love from a community that aims to assist the unemployed can negate potential crimes and make their town stronger. Reinke is a fascinating figure to watch, and the film breathes through his compassionate persona. But he is also a man who is aware of his own weaknesses. I applaud the film for not being afraid to show you the people he helped who called him friend and those he helped who now call him their enemy.
Reinke may remind you of Ned Flanders, a Bible-believing stereotypical Christian who seems out of touch with the modern world because he sings old hymns. But the film actually shows you sides of the Christian faith that often times are glossed over or misunderstood in various media forms and in everyday life.
Unconditional love is a hard concept to grasp for Christians and non-Christians alike. That's what makes this film so utterly engrossing--to see people who make this their mission. Sure, the film's momentum bogs down in spurts. We are introduced to many people with stories and lives that may be too much to keep track of.
But ultimately, this is about a person who sees the world in a way not many do (including his own church members). And some of you may not see things like him either. Some of you may even be quick to call him a hypocrite.
So the question is, "How can you do better?" The answer is--we can't--when we do things alone. Empathy is easier to exercise when we realize that we're all in this together. Until then, the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
