There is an old adage that states: “truth is stranger than fiction.” So what does this tell us about this movie? Do people narrate other people’s lives? No! This isn’t the point at all, rather that when faced with the truth of our own actions we are often open to a life changing experience.

Harold Crick is the most boring character imaginable to start this movie. Yet who else would be better for the exciting contrast of a movie character than Harold the IRS auditor. Numbers are Harold’s life blood. He may not enjoy or even like his job, however he is content. Or at least he thought he was.

Enter the depressive author Karen Eiffel. Karen begins to narrate Harold’s life. This distresses Harold immensely, not that someone is with him, but rather he hears her voice telling him what he is thinking and doing and hinting about knowing more of what will happen. What more this voice of Karen in Harold’s head speaks of his “immanent death.” Two words guaranteed to get the attention of any sane person.

Thus begins the mad cap adventure of Harold seeking out the author of his life and finding a life he didn’t dream possible along the way. Now this is not a direct analogy of God and us. He is not looking for a way to make us die or trip or stumble in any way, however if we let Him we can be led to what we always wanted and better what we were made for.

It took Harold a long time to come to terms with what is happening to him, but not many of us realize the greater story that we are in. No one would want bad things to happen to anyone. We may even wish to rebel and thumb our nose at authority at times, however sometimes the right things, the things that really matter are things that happen every day. Small things or things we don’t think about. Who we spend time with or what we spend our time on. Thinking about others and remembering them not just in memory but in initiative.

There is an appropriate saying among Christians: “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips those He calls.” However this doesn’t mean a free ticket, this means that He will be there when we need Him after we start to work. And yet how much time do we set aside to do what is right? We run ourselves ragged on a tight schedule all the time, but if we were forcibly set back would we have a chance be a hero to someone? Would we get up and move when others hesitate. That is all it takes to be a hero really, is being in the right place at the right time and doing your best to do the right thing. Doing this we will have a life worth living.