Avatar with Paul McDonald and Patrick Creehan
This week on the Men at the Movies podcast, we roll out week 2 of our summer blockbuster series with Avatar starring Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, and Zoe Saldana. The main character is Jake, who has lost his legs and his identity. He sees this mission as a way to restore what was lost. Although true, his path to restoration goes through wonder, danger, and initiation to a greater purpose than he could’ve possibly imagined. It’s time to wake up, and discover God’s truth in this movie.
Avatar and the Process of Initiation
Quotes
Grace invites him into a bigger, more wonderful life than he could have imagined.
What we think is a tragedy is an opportunity for something greater.
The initiation tests and proves our faith.
Themes
Why did we love this movie?
Sense of newness and creativity
Sense of freedom and discovery through Jake’s eyes
The path of initiation and leadership by a mentor
We connect with Jake:
unqualified, unwanted, in over our head, focused on what we can’t do, like we shouldn’t even be there, feels like he doesn’t fit in with where he’s been placed.
He wants his legs back, and both the colonel and Grace will provide the opportunity—he has to choose which path to follow.
The traumatic experiences and what makes us different will actually be what leads to success down the road. But it’s not easy.
He can see things others can’t see because he approaches his new life with surprise and wonder.
Must be initiated to become who we were meant to be. The seeds landing on him was like conversion, but then he has to walk through his initiation to grow. The initiation gets harder is it goes (walking leads to riding which leads to flying).
We must wake up from who we think we are in order to become who we are meant to be.
Artificial vs reality.
Resources
C.S. Lewis Institute website
Saturday Night Live Digital Short: Dick in a Box
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” - Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
“I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your sinful nature.” - 1 Corinthians 3:2-3 (NLT)
Start with something you love. The laughter of your child. Sunlight on the ocean. Your beloved dog. A favorite song, music itself. Perhaps a photo, like my caribou. A favorite spot—your garden, the cliffs at the sea, the family cabin. Someone dear to you. We begin with the things we love; this is the way back, the path home. For we don’t always draw the connection—God made these specifically for you, and he gave you the heart to love them. You’ll be out for a bike ride in the very early morning, cool breeze in your face, all the sweet, fresh aromas it brings, the exhilaration of speed, and your heart spontaneously sings, I love this! The next step is to say, So does God. He made this moment; he made these things. He is the creator of everything I love. Your heart will naturally respond by opening toward him. - John Eldredge, Get Your Life Back: Everyday Practices for a World Gone Mad
“You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.” - Isaiah 55:12 (NIV)
Questions
Why do you love the movies you love?
Where do you feel inadequate and lost, in over your head? Like what am I doing here?
When was the last time you were lost in wonder?
What makes you say, “Wow!”?
How do you feel like Jake in his sense of loss (his legs, his brother, his career)?
How can what you lost lead to something greater? Has it already?
What drives and motivates your choices?
Where do you feel like you’re asleep, or on auto pilot?
What feels most real to you?
More info
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Edited and mixed by Grayson Foster (https://graysonfoster.com/)
Logo and episode templates by Ian Johnston (https://ianhjohnston.com/)
Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).
Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock
Links: