The film begins with a clearly nervous, overwhelmed Prince Albert facing his tremendous fear of public speaking at a packed Wembley Stadium. Out of the Prince's mouth stumble incoherent words, agonising pauses and the inevitable stammering. The microphone used for making speeches becomes the silent prop throughout the movie, which invokes fear and dread.
Watching Prince Albert's personal shame and embarrassment hit a cord with me. As summarised in the following: "For a king, stage fright is the supreme torment, the ultimate humiliation." (www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts).
Here was a man in a regal position, with duties expected of him, yet through no fault of his own, he is rendered to a place of constant humility and frustration. In enlisting countless Speech Therapists, Prince Albert attempted a vast array of cures, some of which stripped him of the dignity and pride owed to him as an upcoming King of England.
Our own personal weaknesses may show up in our lives as a disability, illness or personality flaw. They too can render us weak, embarrassed and frustrated. For some of us we can hide our weaknesses but life does not always allow the safety of privacy. Sometimes, we too are confronted with our own 'microphones' where our personal weaknesses are outplayed before others.
The Bible is full of rich stories where God used men and women in powerful positions, who were also plagued with their own fragility.
Moses himself had a divine purpose to confront Pharaoh and lead God's people out of slavery. Moses contests with God "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." (Exodus 4:10)
Jeremiah was another prophet lacking greatly in self confidence yet called by God to be a prophet. "Ah, Sovereign Lord, " I said, " I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." (Jeremiah 1:7)
Both Moses and Jeremiah persevered and with courage were able to stand through difficult times.
The film, "The King's Speech" ends with great triumph too, as did King George VI in real life. Prior to becoming King, Prince Albert enlists the help from an Australian Speech Therapist, Lionel Logue, whose methods are somewhat unorthodox but none-the-less successful.
Progress is made through determination and courage. King George VI takes the throne and learns to embrace the microphone, which once caused him dread, with grace and dignity.
There is pain in weakness, but I think this movie highlights beautifully that humility really does come before honour, as it says in Proverbs 18:12. A Godly principle prevails in life where God's grace upholds us and there's an invitation for His strength to minister to our weakness. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9).
