Charlie St. Cloud: Of Failures and Second Chances

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By Tracy Phua, 23, Singapore

The recent tearjerker Charlie St. Cloud is based on Ben Sherwood’s best-selling novel The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud. Sherwood crafted the book with a focus on the theme of life. He was particularly interested in the impact of sorrow and death on our lives and how we can make full use of our time on earth.

Charlie St. Cloud is a young boy who graduates high school with a bright future ahead of him. However, a freak car accident kills both him and his brother. Charlie cheats death when a paramedic manages to bring him back to life. As a result, he is presented with the gift of seeing spirits.

Personally, I thought the movie was a rather dismal representation of the novel. Having gone through both the movie and the book, I felt that the former paled in comparison to the latter, leaving much to be desired.

However, despite its poor cinematic reviews, Charlie St. Cloud is rich in moral lessons on failure and second chances. Likewise in the Scriptures, Peter receives another opportunity to confess his faith from our God of second chances.

After Jesus was arrested in Matthew 26, Peter denied Jesus three times before remembering that Jesus had already predicted his betrayal and “went outside and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75b). He had failed in his loyalty to Jesus—both as His disciple and friend.

Yet in John 21, Jesus gives Peter a second chance. Three times, the following was repeated:

Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
—John 21:16

The three questions and affirmations mirror Peter’s three denials (18:15-18, 25-27). Jesus invited Peter to reaffirm everything he had denied in a moment of fear and failure. He still desires to use Peter despite of his failure.

Sometimes, we too pull a “Peter” on God; yet He is always faithful. He keeps coming to ask us, “Do you love me?” Just like how Peter had to look deep within himself to answer Jesus’ question, we too must search our hearts and give an honest answer. Once we do that, it enables us to draw closer to God and hold on more tightly to His truth and grace.

Like Charlie St Cloud, second chances are given for a reason. Let’s make the most of it!

Our Savior does not cast us off
Because we fail or turn aside;
He will forgive when we repent,
Then in His love we will abide. —D. De Haan

Champions of faith are people who have learned from their failures.
(From Our Daily Bread May 31, 2001)