Finding Friendship

Finding Forrester is the story of Jamal Wallace, a young, talented man growing up in a rough neighborhood, who finds the friendship of a reclusive famous author, William Forrester (played by Sean Connery). Jamal Wallace is influenced by misguided, yet well-intentioned friends and has tough surroundings, but is given a chance to succeed by a prestigious private school, with the unexpected help from William Forrester. This is a story of friendship, rising above life's circumstances, and second chances.

Jamal meets William Forrester by chance through a dare by his friends to break into his apartment, but ends up leaving his backpack after being chased out. William ends up reading his writing and critiques it without Jamal's permission, but intriguing him enough to go back for more critique. They begin with a mentor relationship, but a friendship begins to build. Do you know anyone in your life who has budding talent and could use a mentor to help guide them, or have you been on the receiving end of a mentor who has helped you develop your talents? Consider how Jesus started with disciples rough around the edges and turned them into some of the biggest change-agents and teachers of history. Has there been anyone in your life who has helped you spiritually? If not, would someone like that have made your life different?

When Jamal takes something that he wrote in William's apartment and turns it in for a writing contest, against William's advice and Jamal's promise, he is punished for plagiarism, since it happened to be something that William had published years ago. Instead of revealing his relationship with William, he protects him and chooses to take the punishment instead. William makes up for it in the end by coming out of his seclusion and into public to help Jamal. With this he also realizes the friendship Jamal showed to him. Have you had a friend willing to to protect you and show you love at all costs? Read Phillipians 2:1-11.

Jamal and William's lives are both changed from meeting each other. They discover what true friendship is, and with that are given a chance at redemption from their circumstances, and from their mistakes. Finding a good friend can mean all the difference in a person's life.