Paulette and I recently went to see the movie “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” starring Tom Hanks.  It’s a very good movie and is even inspirational.  We both enjoyed it, and I would like to tell you about one scene.  In order to explain it I have to tell you a little bit about the movie, but don’t worry it won’t spoil it for you; in fact, it may help you understand it more fully when you watch it.

The movie is about Fred Rogers and his children’s television show “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.”  It is loosely based on an article by Tom Junod, “Can you say . . . Hero?” that appeared in the November, 1998 issue of Esquire magazine.  The main characters in the movie are Mr. Rogers and a skeptical, hardened, investigative journalist who has been assigned, much against his will, to write an article about Fred Rogers.   He finds it a real challenge and at the time of the scene he has interviewed Rogers several times, both in New York and in Pittsburgh.  They have spent some time talking in Mr. Rogers’ apartment, and after a while Rogers invites the reporter to have lunch with him at a neighborhood restaurant.

The reporter opens up a little, just a very little, about some issues going on in his life, some involving his childhood.  Mr. Rogers listens, and then he deliberately and quietly says, “Let’s both remain silent for one minute, and while we’re silent let’s think about those who loved us and helped us become who we are.”  They both become still.  Very soon others in the restaurant notice, put down their forks, and also become quiet.  It spreads to the entire restaurant, and the movie has no sound for a period of time.  It sounds hokie, but it was very effective.  I have to admit my theater experience was a little marred.  When the screen became silent during the scene, there was still a low rumbling in the theater.  I even asked Paulette if it was thunder.  She said, that no, that was just “Star Wars” playing next door.  Even with the rumbling I found myself reflecting about those in my own life and internally saying, “Thank you God.”

In 1997 Fred Rogers received an Emmy for lifetime achievement.  The scene above is based on his very short Emmy acceptance speech, which has been viewed online many times.  He said, “All of us have special ones who have loved us into being.  Would you take, along with me, ten seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are? . . . Ten seconds of silence.”  It was one of the most poignant Emmy speeches ever.  If you watch it you will see tears in the eyes of some in the audience.

I think Rogers sets an excellent example.  It is good to be quiet and think about those who loved us and helped us become who we are, even though we are surrounded by the rumbling sounds of the world around us.  I’m sure that Fred Rogers, a Presbyterian minister, would urge us to include God in our inventory of those “who loved us into being.”  It was God’s unconditional love that helped us most of all.

Jim