Recently I was able to sit down and watch the movie Radio with my family. The story is based on a real life situation that started in the 1970s, and is still playing out today in a South Carolina community. It is a story of love and going against the crowd and doing what God has called us to do. As the film begins, the audience is introduced to a young man with a mental disability pushing a shopping cart with a radio on the seat around town. Each day, lost in his own little world, he pushes his cart down the same route, always passing the local school football field at the same time – practice time. One day, some of the boys on the football team took notice to him and thought it would be a great joke to tie this young man up and leave him in the shed by the field. The coach caught the players teasing him, but did not get angry. Rather, the boys endured a couple extra-long practices.
Even after the very traumatic experience of being tormented by some of the players, the young man continues on the same route each and every day. Coach Jones takes notice and slowly begins a friendship with the young man. Early in the relationship Coach Jones asks about the young man’s name. When no answer is given, Coach nicknames him Radio because of the young man’s fascination of radios. A large portion of the movie shows Radio accepting and trusting Coach Jones and even becoming a water boy for the football team. While the schoolboard does not appreciate Radio interacting on school property, Coach Jones continues to get Radio involved in school activities – even helping the school secretary with the morning announcements. Radio becomes well respected by many of the students at the school and he begins to flourish and learn basic lessons he had never learned as a young man. The more opportunity Coach gives Radio, the more the schoolboard and concerned parents push back. The principal continues to ask Coach Jones why he is doing what he is doing. His response is always that he isn’t sure, but he is compelled to continue to care for Radio.
I was reminded of the words Paul writes in Colossians 3, “12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience…15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
The compassion for Radio’s wellbeing by Coach Jones was very moving. I realize I am a little behind on the times since the flick is well over ten years old, but the story told will never outdate. When the film ended, our family agreed it was a great story and Coach Jones was a very kind and compassionate person. When I asked my children if they knew a ‘Radio’ in Luverne, they were a little confused. I explained there are many people who are different than us; people we choose to walk by each day without even noticing. Like Coach Jones, and Jesus, it’s important we are attentive to these individuals and have compassion on their lives. If we walk by them, they may never experience kindness, respect or even a real friendship; and we may miss an opportunity to show them Christ.
As we journey through this life, may it never be said of us that we passed up on being Jesus Christ’s representative in this world as we went about our daily lives. If you have never seen the film Radio, I would encourage you to do so and ask yourself who the Radio is in your life.
Becky Ossefoort