I was randomly on Peacock a while ago and started finding different faith-based movies. One that I watched, and really liked was the 2015 indie film, “Once I Was A Beehive” starring Paris Warner, Mila Smith, and Lisa Clark. Even as a grown woman, I will watch a teen show/movie in a second!
Here’s a short synopsis:
After losing her father to cancer, a teenage girl, Lane, reluctantly joins her new stepcousin, Phoebe, at a summer camp for Latter-day Saint (Mormon) girls. (To add on more, her mother remarried someone about a year later).
Though I am a Baptist Christian and don’t subscribe to all of the beliefs of the Mormon faith, I still think that this movie has a special message about faith, fun, and friendship. Plus, as you soon will tell, I’m a sucker for cheesy, campy movies!
Here are three great takeaways from “Once I Was a Beehive” (and the trailer!).
Isolation Is Good For a Time, But Not Forever
As I shared, the lead character, Lane lost her father to cancer…and her mother ended up engaged to someone else months later. In dealing with grief, anger, and confusion, Lane didn’t really want to interact with people. As someone who has battled grief, I understand the feeling. You do need time away by yourself to process your feelings and, more importantly, spend time with God.
Ultimately, though, we aren’t meant to do life alone (Genesis 2:18). I know people often think of that verse from a romantic sense, but we need community period. Lane did eventually find friendship with her stepdad’s niece, Phoebe, and the other girls she camped with.
Keep Inviting Your Unsaved Friends to Church and Christian Events Anyway
In the beginning, the main character, Lane, REALLYYYY didn’t want to go to a camp for three weeks with girls she didn’t know. Let alone a Mormon camp because she wasn’t religious. However, she had built a small connection with her stepcousin, Phoebe, who was getting ready to back out of this camp herself. However, one of the camp leaders, Sister Carrington kept pushing for both girls to come.
It was persistence from Sister Carrington and Lane finally caving in, that made me think about inviting unsaved friends to church. You don’t have to hound them all of the time, no. But keep letting them know about “Hey, we’re having this event at my church and you should swing through” or “I’m singing at church this Sunday and I would love to have your support.” You would be surprised what one invite, and that friend actually coming, will do in bringing that person closer to Christ. Or at the very least, curious about Him!
People Connect To Your Faith When It’s Actually Lived Out
As you watch through the movie, there were some older girls who were assigned to be kinda of junior leaders for the camping trip. However, some of the girls really didn’t see them as leaders because they were cliquey and “nice nasty.” Meaning that they were being lowkey shady and acting with ulterior motives while keeping a nice, “Christian” smile on their faces! The girls maybe listened to them out of fear of retaliation, but certainly not respect. However, because Lane came in being herself and showing a sense of care and respect to the campers, she eventually got that back in return once the girls got to know her.
At the heart of it, we’re called to show love to one another. In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus gives us the two greatest commandments in the New Testament. The first: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” The second? “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Treating those around us — whether they think, speak, or act like us — with kindness, no judgment, and the love and grace that God shows us!
If we as believers don’t lead with love and respect, can we really expect others to want to learn more about the Jesus we claim to know and love?
So those were my three takeaways from this cute film. I’ll share more faith-based movies in the future!
Imperfectly B 