The End of the Affair is arguably Graham Greene's most autobiographical novel, taking as its inspiration his adulterous love affair with the American Catherine Walston, who was married to a wealthy farmer. The book is dedicated to her. Greene's biographer, Norman Sherry, has called their relationship "the greatest literary affair of this century."

This is an incredible film (it was made into a movie once before in 1955). The topic is timeless in its question: What to do with broken promises to God?

Broken promises to God often plays out in our lives like the television show, "Let's Make a Deal." But God is not like us. While we try to negotiate away our lives with bargaining chips, God is less impressed with our deal making strategies than the affairs of our heart. Deal making is always about the dealmaker, not the God relationship. God is reduced to an observer. The real battle lies within and can only be solved by submitting to what we can't change. Then, and only then, are we able to hear our own truth and allow God's intervention.

The interesting parts in this movie are the autobiographical sketches of the author, Graham Greene. I wonder now how much Green wrote himself into one of his other novels with the same life themes, "The Quiet American," which also became a Hollywood movie.

In The Quiet American, Green wrote about a seasoned (and very cynical) journalist by the name of Fowler who was stationed in Saigon during France's struggle with the Vietminh. I bought this book from street children during a trip to Saigon in 1998. Since the action takes place in and around Saigon, it makes sense to hawk the book there. They Xerox the book and sell it to tourists for five dollars. It was a valuable read for me. I learned that people who prefer life as a spectator sport seldom get away with it.

Fowler was a strong believer in being only a spectator to life's action. His motto: never get involved. He manages to live this way until life gets too close and personal. He then finds himself forced to violate his own rule. He justifies the killing of his good friend in order to stop the escalation of the war. A by-product of this action just happens to be the fact that he then "wins the girl." His sudden participation in life was not purely humanitarian.

Fowler learns that "suffering is not increased by numbers: one body can contain all the suffering the world can feel. I had judged like a journalist in terms of quantity and I had betrayed my own principles; I had become engaged in life..., and it seemed to me that no decision would ever be simple again." Welcome to life, Fowler. Welcome to the real world of ambiguity, confusion, doubt, pain, disappointment, death of dreams and loss. Welcome to all that challenges, compels, transforms, and forms us into real human beings. There are no easy answers. Nothing is ever clear. Life is never what we expect it to be. As long as we try to side step the real issues we remain in perpetual confusion and agony of soul. Truth is the only road to freedom.

This theme of "how much to get involved" streams through most, if not all, of Greene's novels. I suspect it may have been the greatest conflict in his own life. I can't really say, however, because after reading his autobiography, I didn't have much insight into his character - he manages to not "get too involved" in his own truth telling. But maybe he was one of the most widely read authors of this last century because he was so brutally honest about the self-serving nature of most of our life's choices.

An interesting epilogue to the "Quiet American" is that just like Fowler and the French, the United States didn't want to get too involved with the Vietnamese either. Our promises in 1962 to stick with them and see them through to victory, meant little more than that when we left them stranded and without hope by April 30 of '75. If you don't want the commitment, don't say the words.

GOOD, BUT EXPLICIT
Subject: Comment on End of an Affair
Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000
From: "Laury Morrison"

I thought this movie was very enjoyable. It had depth, the struggle was real and tragic. Love between a woman and a man really can be like that - the most compelling thing in your life apart from a relationship with God. I also thought the sex scenes were way to explicit and spoiled what could have been a good movie for my children to watch to learn how to struggle with real issues. Laury Morrison

Response: Yes it was an adult picture. I think that if it were toned down it still would not be for kids. Too "mochy." I think the subject would bore them.

CRIED ALL THREE TIMES
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000
From: Alice

I saw this movie three times and each time I cried. I felt the love she had for her lover and the same time the greater love she had for God. It's funny how we battle
with our feelings that we have for certain people that we shouldn't have, because we know it's wrong in God's word. It is hard, I know. I will continue to pray.
Alice

HJ HARD TO READ
Subject: Hey, love this web site!
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000
From: Carol

I really appreciate what you are doing. Just wanted to let you know that sometimes, the pages are hard to read - for example, the end of the affair pages made my eyes water.

Thanks. I will continue to pray for you and your ministry...