The Next Three Days with Paul McDonald and Wailer Giles
Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, we go on the run with The Next Three Days. When facing a hopeless and helpless situation, love is inherently irrational. We discuss loving our wives well in the face of the evidence that says we’ve done enough. We offer compassion without expecting a response, die on her behalf many times in a manner that never gets easier. Let’s pursue the irrationality and join us as we discover God’s truth in this movie.
Quotes
Many stories place a character into a situation, let them try to get out, throw up obstacle after obstacle and see who what person becomes.
We are expected to die on her behalf, and that might be a bunch of times that never gets more pleasant.
Many men are more enchanted with the idea of making disciples of strangers, but the call is making disciples of our children.
If we are only able to see rational facts, it will destroy our soul because we have no room for hope.
What we see is the rational, but we need to grasp the irrational.
It is very difficult to receive love when you don’t feel like you’re worth it.
She can’t be free unless her child is with her.
Love is inherently irrational.
Themes
Don Quixote
Tension between ideal and reality
Futility in effort, pointlessness of pursuits
“Belief in virtue is more important than virtue itself.”
“Rational thought destroys your soul.”
“Triumph of irrationality and the power in that.”
“What part of our life is truly under our control?”
Enamored with Dulcinea, when Pancho does not know
Loving our wives well in spite of a hopeless situation where the world would say, “You’ve done enough.”
With a singular focus
Willing to do anything for her freedom
Responds to what she needs
Understanding her wounds, she suffers from things that’s not her fault
Needs to see his wife free in all ways
Sees her with mystic eyes
Only sees the best in her
What does it take to love our wives well?
Moves in compassion without expecting a response
Resources
The Rewatchables podcast
“Would you save the woman you love if you knew by doing it you would become someone she’d no longer love?” - Paul Haggis
“We wanted to make a real human story about an ordinary man doing extraordinary things because he’s faced with a miscarriage of justice.” - Fred Cavaye
“Humor can get in under the door while seriousness is still fumbling at the handle.” - G.K. Chesterton
“Marriage is a duel to the death, which no man of honor should decline.” - G.K. Chesterton
“You’re gonna meet a lot of women that would be very easy to live with. But you’ll only meet one that you can’t live without.” - Wailer’s Grandaddy
“For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body.” - Ephesians 5:25-30 (NLT)
“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” - Philippians 2:5-11 I(NLT)
“And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” - 2 Kings 6:17 (NIV)
Questions
What does devotion to your wife look like in a practical way?
What does it mean to die on her behalf?
How do you make your wife your primary focus?
What wounds does your wife carry? How does this impact your relationship? How do your actions and responses either exacerbate or soothe those wounds?
How do you try to maintain control of your life? How has it proven to be beyond your control?
Ask God to show you your wife with mystic eyes, to see her as he sees her. What words describe her glory?
What does it mean to lay down your life?
What do you to express your love for your wife? What happens if she doesn’t respond?
More info
Check out our YouTube channel (@menatthemovies) for bonus content.
Find us on the socials:
YouTube: @menatthemovies
Facebook: @menatthemovies
Instagram: @menatthemovies
TikTok: @menatthemovies
Twitter: @_menatthemovies
If you would like to support our work (and get some behind-the-scenes perks), visit our Patreon page. Get invites to livestreams, bonus episodes, even free merch. If you’d like to do a one-time contribution (a cameo appearance), visit www.menatthemovies.com/investors.
Edited and mixed by Grayson Foster
Logo and episode templates by Ian Johnston
Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).
Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock.
Links: