“Sake!” (The Last Samurai)

Sometimes movies can provide crucial lessons. I recently watched The Last Samurai and a number of things captured my attention. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the depictions in the movie, so some things are only rely on the reality of Hollywood.

1) Every day, from the time they get up, the Japanese villagers are seen devoting their life to their way of life. Everything from servanthood to swordplay to tea ceremonies. Later in the movie the term to describe something so beyond themselves it was “life in every breath”, as the leader of the Samurai put it, bushidou.

2) The Samurai leader keeps captive the surviving American soldier to learn from him. Not only does he have the wisdom to keep his enemies closer, he also contains the compassion to recognize the American culture is not similar to the Japanese culture. Therefore the Samurai does not hold the American to the same cultural standard. He lets the foreigner learn the culture, and the American becomes embedded in the culture.

3) There is an air of mystery surrounding the Samurai, and it's just because the purpose of the Samurai is simple. Devote oneself to a higher purpose. The Samurai have a calling to serve the Emperor, who is mightier than all, even though there are times where the Emperor is led astray by selfish advisors.

4) Samurai means “to serve”, not warrior, or Japanese for soldier, as the American assumes. Understanding one's intent avoids misunderstanding and errors in judgment.

Can we apply these lessons to our own lives? Can we devote ourselves to God from the moment we wake up? Can we accept people for who they are and then let them join our culture? Can we serve a purpose greater than us, for a nation greater than we can fathom?