The reality of children growing up in foster care often remains invisible.   Sometimes, those of us who didn’t grow up “in the system” simply can’t see these precious kids and their unique hurts and burdens.

A big part of that is because the system itself is often invisible to us.  For most Americans, the reality of foster kids and systems just doesn’t intersect with daily life.  Not only do we not visibly encounter it at work or home or the supermarket; it’s rarely seen on the TV shows we watch or Internet sites we visit.

Unless we choose to seek it out, foster care remains out of sight and out of mind.

That’s why I really appreciate the ways a new Christian film, The Lost Medallion, weaves into its story the character of a boy who lives in foster care.

From the 20,000-foot level, the film is merely a fun story.  I’ve never been much of a “Christian movie” fan, but my kids and I both enjoyed it the whole way through.  They went back and forth between laughing and covering their eyes, fearful at the impossible situations the characters’ faced.

But here’s what I see as most important.  The film isn’t about foster care.  It’s primarily an enjoyable story.  And because that story is about a boy whose journey includes foster care, it helps make that reality less invisible.  It reminds us that there are foster kids all around us—kids much like the rest of us, yet often aching for love and belonging and affirmation that we may have taken for granted.

The Lost Medallion is opening this weekend in theaters nationwide.  (See more HERE.)   If you and your kids get a chance, check it out.  You’ll be in a fun time.  More significantly, you’ll each be subtly reminded of things, and people, we should never fail to see.