Greater Page #10

I promised Ma that I'd take her

to church tonight

'cause I gotta go back

to Indianapolis tomorrow.

Oh, that's what it is.

He's about to sign a big contract, so he's

already forgetting about us little people.

Right, he's gonna be all rich. Next time

we see him, he's gonna be on TV, huh?

No.

I've always...

I've always longed for home.

Ever since I got here.

And I'm sure I'm gonna long for it

at Indianapolis, too.

When football's over, just come

look for me in that old house,

on Cherry Street, in Harrison, Arkansas,

'cause that's where I'll be.

Well, it's really come together

for you, Burls.

And I don't think I ever met

anybody who deserved it more.

Thanks, coach.

I'm gonna see you guys later.

It's time for me to go home.

Falling in love

When you come undone

Who do you need?

Who do you love?

I... love... you.

Who do you see?

Who do you love?

When you come...

I'll fly away

Well, I'll fly away, Oh, Lordy

I'll fly away

I'd die, Hallelujah, by and by

I'll fly away...

Mr. Burlsworth?

Your mama's probably wondering

where you are.

Wasn't he just days away from signing?

Could've set his mama up for life

if he just signed that contract,

gotten those benefits.

It's gonna be starting soon,

we need to go up.

All he wanted to do

was take care of his mama.

"Honor thy father and mother." Isn't that

one of the ten commandments, Marty?

What? God breaking his own rules, now?

Couldn't wait one week

to snatch your brother away.

Marty.

There is no loving God, Marty.

That's ridiculous.

There's just a howling void.

And a real man, an honest man,

doesn't get down on his knees,

and pray to it for its mercy.

He stands up to it,

and he looks it right in its face,

and he howls right back.

You know, I think I've had enough

of your company for today...

sir.

Mike...

you go on up now.

Go.

Go get 'em, Joe! Get 'em, go, go!

- All right, boys, let's call it a game.

- Boys. Let's go inside and change up.

Uncle Brandon's coming up

for church. Go, go, go.

Vicky, uh, is Brandon coming here, or are

we meeting him at Mama's house?

Uh, I'm not sure, why don't you call him?

That's weird.

- Easy, boys.

- Honey, why are there police?

All right...

keep the boys in the car, I'm gonna

go take a look inside, all right?

Mama!

No, no, no... oh, God...

- No! No, no!

- Mama, what?

No, no, you're mistaken,

you've got to be...

No, you're wrong! Brandon!

Brandon, he's dead.

- Wha...?

- My baby is dead!

Are you Marty Burlsworth?

Oh, my God.

Your brother was involved in an accident.

- There was an 18-wheeler.

- I hate doing this.

- This is not...

- Someone crossed the center line...

If you want more information, you can call

the Arkansas State Police hotline.

He died instantly. I'm so sorry.

Marty! Marty!

Mama.

Marty!

No. No, no. No, Marty.

Shh, shh.

Tell me it's not true. It can't be true.

Oh, Mam!-

Oh, Marty.

Mart!!-

Marty, look what they did.

Isn't that wonderful?

You coming inside?

It's about ready to start.

I don't know.

Why'd this happen, Mom?

Can you answer me that?

Is there even a "why,"

or is this just an "is"?

The answer's are right there

in your brother's life,

if you want to see them, Marty.

Answers?

Yes.

All right, answer me this then.

What was the point

of my baby brother's life?

To show us how wonderful something could

be, so we could miss it that much more?

I mean, all that he did,

all his pain and suffering,

to make himself better... for... for what?

If you assume this is all there is,

you'd have a point, Marty.

But that's not true.

This life is a drop in the ocean.

One tick of eternity's clock,

and we'll all be together again, Marty.

And any trouble we had here,

will recede away like a dream.

- You don't know that, Mom.

- I do.

- No, you don't.

- I do, Marty.

Just 'cause you can't stand the chaos

doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Bad things happen to good people.

Evil people thrive.

It's like some giant game

of pick-up-sticks.

There's no master plan, Mom.

You assume you're seeing

the whole picture, son.

We can't even do that

in our day-to-day lives,

much less the whole world

and all the time with it.

Do you remember when Brandon had

to get those ridiculous-looking glasses?

- Mm-hmm.

- Yes?

You thought it was terrible at first.

But it turned out to be a good thing.

It made him stand out.

We're just too small.

Way too small to make the kind

of judgments you're making.

You have to trust

that something greater sees things

from a higher perspective

where everything makes sense.

I love you.

But it's almost time...

for my son's funeral.

We don't grieve today

'cause we think Brandon is gone.

We grieve because he's gone from us.

And we miss him.

Brandon would understand that.

But Brandon would also hope,

I think, that that our...

our joy would overcome our sorrow.

That we would celebrate with thanks

giving, that he finished his course,

kept the faith, and received his reward.

Why do bad things happen

to good people?

I admit, from where I'm standing,

I don't know.

But Brandon would say

just because we don't see the point,

doesn't mean there isn't one.

Every down at the line of scrimmage,

Brandon could only see the inches

right in front of his face,

but he had good reason to believe

that there was a game plan.

Now, we can have the same confidence

that Brandon had,

if we remember that oftentimes,

things aren't what they look like

in the moment.

Then in the end, there's always,

always the bigger picture.

Thanks, cheesecake.

I'll fly away

To a home on God's celestial shore

I'll fly away

Oh, I'll fly away, oh, glory

I'll fly away

When I die, Hallelujuh, by and by

I'll fly away

Let Brandon hear.

When the shadows

of this life have gone

I'll fly away

Like a bird from prison

miles have flown

I'll fly away

Oh, I'll fly away, oh, glory

I'll fly away

When I die, Hallelujah, by and by

I'll fly away

I'll fly away, one more time.

Oh, I'll fly away, oh, glory

I'll fly away

When I die, Hallelujah, by and by

I'll fly away

I'll fly away, oh, glory

I'll fly away

When I die, Hallelujah, by and by

I'll fly away

Oh, I'll fly away, oh, glory

I'll fly away

When I die, Hallelujah, by and by

I'll fly away

Mmm, mmm, mmm

Some glad mornin'

When my life is old

I'll fly away

To a home on God's celestial shore

I'll fly away

I'll fly away

Oh, glory, I will fly away

When that day, Hallelujah, by and by

I... I... I will fly away

When the shadows

Of this life is gone

I'll fly away

Like a bird

From prison walls have flown

Yeah, I'll fly away

I'll fly away

Oh, glory

I'll fly away

When I die, Hallelujah, by and by

I'll fly away

Oh, how glad and happy

when we meet

I'll fly away

No more cold

Iron shackles on my feet

I'll fly away

Oh, glory, I'll fly away

When I die, Hallelujah, by and by

I'll fly away

When I die

Hallelujah, by and by

I'll

Fly away

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