Hallmark movies have not only been synonymous with all things Christmas, they hint at values such as faith, hard work, and perhaps even redemption and sacrifice. They’re so typical that most of us could write the script. The fact that Hallmark keeps making these cookie-cutter storylines suggests that they’re highly popular, and the fact that they’re so popular suggests that they speak to a desire many people have deep down: belonging. If you’ve ever wondered why every Hallmark character suddenly finds the small-town life appealing, wonder no more. It’s because their material needs are fully met, but they still find emptiness and realize that reconnecting with faith, family, and community can fill the void that they haven’t been able to solve on their own. We certainly see that a lot in today’s culture, and many of us run around scratching our heads over how to solve this problem. Perhaps Hallmark movies have been hinting at part of the solution all along. Political power becomes more attractive when all other forms of association have been destroyed or weakened. The state becomes powerful not by virtue of what it takes from the individual but by virtue of what it takes from the spiritual and social associations which compete with it for our devotion. Yes, Hallmark movies can seem a bit silly on the surface, but then so is the constant bickering and focus on petty partisanship we see today. If we want to get rid of the latter, perhaps we need to reconsider the wisdom in the belonging advanced by those same movies at which many of us are prone to scoff.
