-The truly terrible thing about this life, was not knowing what you want, but only able to recognize what you do not want. You have to spend so much time and energy trying to find it out, time that other people spent in the pursuing of their desires.
–Quote from Finn, “How to make an American Quilt”
-Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.
–Ecclesiastes 2:11
-The Quilters of First Lutheran meet Mondays and Wednesdays at 9AM to make quilts for Lutheran World Relief and other local organizations. Bring a sack lunch; coffee is provided.
–from the website of First Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, SD
I grew up among quilters…grandmothers, aunts, even cousins. “Sew” many willing instructors (sorry, I couldn’t help myself)…alas, I felt more at home tooling around the farm on an ATV than sitting at a table stitching, even with a group. The call of the road always drowned out the call of the quilt.
Despite my disregard for all things domestic, I’ve been the grateful recipient of numerous quilts throughout my life. They have been constant and loyal companions, crisscrossing the country with me, providing extra layers of warmth in subzero winter nights, and offering soft, weighty, continuous hugs on demand. Those voluminous folds have caught a lot of tears, some sorrowful, some joyful.
So when the book “How to Make an American Quilt” showed up, I was all in! and although it didn’t convert me, it gave me a much deeper appreciation for those works of art and the people who create them, sometimes to be displayed, but mostly to be used.
Then the movie…and what a cast! I went…I watched…yet…not with delight…rather…unease. I left the theater…unsatisfied…and I couldn’t determine why. It made no sense. It was a faithful rendition of the novel, no fault in the acting. I should’ve come away inspired, but all I felt was…hollow.
Almost thirty years later, I spotted the DVD on display at the library and snapped it up. I’d been haunted by my initial reaction all this time, and now I was older and (hopefully) wiser. I was going to get to the bottom of this! I walked again through the stories of each character, leading up to the “happy ending” of the young heroine, who ultimately chooses her fiance over the town hottie, because “I know our marriage has as good of a chance of being wonderful as it does missing the mark.”
Cue the credits.
There it was. That hollowness again…followed by sadness.
That’s when it hit me…
God isn’t there.
In all of those tragic tales…death, grief, longing, loneliness, betrayal, abandonment, adultery, shattered dreams…
Not one of the women turns to God or gives Him credit for helping her pull through.
That hurts my heart.
Sure, they overcame. They persevered. They loved. Bloodied, but unbowed…yet not triumphant. Instead…a bittersweet, nostalgic resignation.
No joy.
No God…no joy.
Mystery solved.
Ironically, the theme of the movie’s quilt is “Where love resides…”
With the Source of all love ignored and unrecognized.
A couple reviews of the film share some additional insights. The first, from Larsen on Film…
“Despite the impression left by its ad campaign, How to Make an American Quilt is not a romantic film. Those behind the movie seem to think they have made a heartwarming, tender picture about women and ways of love, yet there’s an uneasy attitude that pervades the film, a darkly cynical conviction that seeps through each line of dialogue and lingers after every scene. Quilt is a horror story about love that can’t face its own worldview…
One is tempted to use the same metaphorical cop-out the movie does when it includes the following poem: ‘Young lovers seek perfection. Old lovers learn the art of sewing shreds together and of seeing beauty in a multiplicity of patches.’
Such a sentiment may cover all the bases, but it still leaves a troublesome thematic hole that no amount of poetry, imagery or metaphor can fill.”
In this movie…in life…no matter how hard we deny and try to fill that hole…though our attempts may be beautiful…
That hole can only be filled by God…by His love, His promise, His hope, His victory.
Next, an observation from Roger Ebert:
“It is…Anna (the head quilter) who sets the master plan for each quilt and keeps the others in line.”
As we piece together the patches and squares of our lives, yes, let’s gather up the support of a trusted circle…
With a designated space of honor for our Head Quilter…
The One with the Master Plan…
the best plan for us, for all.
Colossians 2:2–…that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ.