Walter White died last night. Again. Unlike the days of 'Who Shot J.R.?,' a story on television, such as, 'Breaking Bad,' can be viewed and relived independently by an infinite number of viewers, an infinite number of times. The conclusion of the tragic story will be the same, but the experience is fresh and new for the viewer, in all the broken ways. I began it a few years ago, and stopped. I put it on the 'do not enter' shelf of my movie/television viewing library. But recently, it surfaced. And once you get sucked in, you have to know what happens to Walter White. What I really wanted to know was what was going to happen to Jessie Pinkmon. I won't spoil it for you, completely. Although I do not recommend it for the soul whose mind is not prepared to witness the broken underworld of drug cartels and those who partake of its goods. While addiction may be a relatable part for some watchers, the beginning of the story is what draws the average person in, making them wonder what can make someone fall down such a dark and twisted rabbit hole.
Livy of ancient days, (59 B.C. - A.D. 17) is often quoted as he writes about the fall of Rome,
'We can endure neither our evils nor their cures.'
Directing his comments to the more ancient Romans, he asks the reader of his most thorough history of his beloved Rome, The Early History of Rome, to 'trace the process of our moral decline, to watch first, the sinking of the foundations of morality as the old teaching was allowed to lapse, then the rapidly increasing disintegration, then the final collapse of the whole edifice, and the dark dawning of our modern day when we can neither endure our vices nor face the remedies needed to cure them. The study of history is the best medicine for a sick mind; for in history you have a record of the infinite variety of human experience plainly set out for all to see; and in that record you can find for yourself and your country both examples and warnings; fine things to take as models, base things; rotten through and through to avoid.'
I think back to the beginning of Walter's story, and he is so relatable. He's a gentle, reticent man, outwardly simple, chemistry teacher, who has been diagnosed with a dreadful disease. His wife is pregnant. He has a son with disabilities, and their financial situation is less than promising. Everyone around them seems to be successful in their own way.
It is clear this show will not be a beacon of (G)ospel truth. But I believe this is the brokeness about which Livy laments: the lack of Lasting Foundations and Eternal Things, exemplified in the lack of guidance by father's and father figures towards noble and godly virtues.
There is a deceptive level of 'fineness' in Walter's concern for his family's well-being. But at what and whose expense? Those who will be impacted by his new industry, for he becomes a meth 'cook', impacting the safety of his family-- and what of those who use his product perpetuating the endless cycle of addiction?
At each turn in the story, when he returns to his 'normal' life, Walter seems to be a loving father and husband, giving us a false sense of hope. But as his involvement in his drug career and subsequent success heightens, his lack of moral foundation becomes exposed. His words of care about his family well-being become less in alignment with a true sense of care, and more about feeding his new found sense of power.
At one point he expresses the loss of knowing his own father, and how this impacted himself. He is constantly trying to present a positive role model for his son, wanting to be present and a part of his life. And yet he leads this double life, eventually creating irreparable damage. He has made decisions creating almost no way out of this path.
Jessie Pinkmon, a willing but highly coearst drives home the point of the generational lack of eternal moorings. For while he has a father and mother who expect him to do without drugs and live a conventional life, they have no reason to offer in their cameo appearances. Even then it is only his mother who comes to deal with him as they severe ties.
There is one father who tries diligently to keep their child from drugs. While he seems to be the most pro-active, his potential for success is ultimately lacking. I would propose this is where the subtle absence of spiritual moorings becomes most obvious and most painful. He has tried to do what he knows to be right, but he comes up at a loss. For the loss of physical life is clear-- it is tragic and senseless. But the apparent lack of spiritual relationship with a Divine Creator has long been left in the proverbial dust, just as forgotten as the scattered particles of the substance used that ruined the life lost.
We can say -What does it matter? It's just a show. And I respect if you are asking 'Why should we watch at all?' Humor me a bit longer as I process out this culturally relevant story. We can all see how desperate Walter White was, and how much he needed and wanted o care for his family when he would no longer be able to provide for them. He would become powerless, disabled, impotent.
White begins with one objective but meets on his way another desirable and truly relatable outcome. He begins by nobly wanting to provide for his family. But he finds that he likes who he becomes, a powerful and respected cog in the feared underworld. This new world he lives in plays outside the rules he is continually constrained by, and he keenly experiences the power that comes with his new found position. His learned skills of chemistry set him apart from all of the others. He becomes highly valued, untouchable. I say relatable. Yes. To work in our combined learned and natural gifts is a blessing. But this is where it becomes acutely clear that White is untethered from essential virtues and ultimately from his Creator.
While Livy does not directly point to the God of the Hebrews nor to the Father of the Christ that would shake his present history of his own world, Livy does remind us that in the record of civilization, one 'can find both examples and warnings; fine things to take as models and base things; rotten through and through, to avoid.' Avoiding mind altering addictive substances and the activity of producing such is a given to 'avoid.' But what example of 'fine things to take as a model' are absent, an absence so keenly felt in this not so impossible to believe story?
Ultimate and fundamental authority is a theme worthy of its own exploration. The brokenness becomes clear because we eventually find ourselves thinking outside the realm of law abiding ideology. The relativity of 'right and wrong' are on clear display, and the discussion of fundamental divine authority are never broached- but are they? There is something in Jessie Pinkmon's role in this tragic story that keeps bringing us back to the sanctity of life. His circumstances and experiences keep involving innocence lost and we see him embrace his long disabused sense of morality only to have it challenged and crushed again, and again. When an encouraging word could have propelled him to a new life, that ultimate Authority is no where in the memories of anyone's experience and the climax and denoument are 'rotten through and through.'
Most in this story do not 'endure their vices,' nor do they know the Cure. I say White is relatable because he is. The statistics of this award winning television's show are astounding. Perhaps some watched because it is so far fetched, so well written and entertaining escapism. But it is also relatable. Up until 20 years ago, one didn't have the standard $500 upcharge of the cost of living for all of the electronics and entertainment packages that are now an assumed part of life. The White family are typical, average, even having a memory of what might have been a financially life altering success story. They are mainstream. The absence of the Cure, the knowledge of one's Creator is no less important- it's just not within reach. The stretch is too far to find a redeeming outcome.
Here is my question and my take away: Years ago, I wondered why the Brady Bunch never went to church, and I went 3 times a week. It should be no surprise that a story like Walter White's is even broadcasted- this is just the natural progression of 'the disentegration, the final collapse of the edifice' of our collective moral soul. But 'The Cure,' the Balm of Gilead is no less effective in saving men's souls than it was when Livy wrote his history of one of the most eventually corrupted empires of the known world.
Mankind will ebb and flow to and from its Original Source and Designer.
Ultimately it is up to me to seek the Ultimate Authority about any story or experience I may hear or have. The chroniclers of our day are not reliable to remember Our creator. But the brokeness is real and He is needed in every real or conjured experience.
My point is not to persuade you to watch a broken story, but to urgently on the daily, hourly and each moment, look to the One who is able to heal the brokeness of all our stories. He is able. He is worthy of our attention.
God be honored in all things. He is worthy.
**Be advised: Published in the haste of life. Grammar and composition are on the level of a coffee shop conversation or late night kitchen snack run.
