The Good Shepherd

Don't let the title fool you; it has nothing to do with Psalm 23 or John 10. The movie is about the beginning of the CIA and the leaks that plagued it, culminating in the Bay of Pigs fiasco. The story revolves around Edward Wilson's search for the source of the leak that resulted in one of the biggest failures of U.S. intelligence. I am not recommending you to see this movie by commenting on it (there are some intense scenes and sexual situations).

What intrigued me about this movie is its excellent portrayal of the twisted world of intelligence. The main characters struggle with loneliness and isolation because they cannot trust anyone. People are being turned by the enemy and even the most private areas of their lives are being used to manipulate and thwart them. Without trust, there can be no intimacy. This is the main theme of the movie and the script hammers it home effectively.

As a young boy, Edward's father tells him to never tell a lie, because if he does, then no one will ever trust him and he will lose all of his friends. As Edward leaves the room, his father commits suicide because he had been caught lying in his government position. Edward never forgot the moment when he found his father dead on the floor, and as a result, his final words haunt Edward the rest of his life.

Unfortunately, always telling the truth and being a spy don't go well together. Struggling to maintain his integrity in the midst of the twisted world of espionage becomes the main conflict in the movie. Edward's commitment to integrity impressed me and I truly felt his inner turmoil as he had to make one of the most difficult decisions: remain loyal to his country or to save his son. This movie pulls no punches, and the incredible price Edward has to pay to maintain his integrity is graphically portrayed.

The theme of the movie is very applicable to our daily lives, even though we are not spies. We also struggle with maintaining our integrity in a twisted world, whether at work or school or home. Often the price is just as high, and the temptation to lie and be disloyal is real and great. But God calls us to live lives of integrity in the midst of this wicked and crooked generation, so that we might be as stars in the night sky. Jesus never said it would be easy to follow him; in fact, he often warned his would-be followers of the price they would have to pay if they chose to follow him. The stakes are just as high today. Count the cost and determine to remain loyal before you are tempted to turn aside from the truth.

Much of the loneliness we face is the result of a lack of integrity. We cannot develop intimacy without trust. Unfortunately, many poeple today do not maintain their integrity, therefore they are not able to develop intimacy. Without integrity, we are like isolated islands in a vast ocean unable to make contact with each other on the deepest levels. So, listen to the advice of Edward's father and never tell a lie.