Cast Away with Paul McDonald and Wilson
This week on the Men at the Movies podcast, we get lost at sea with Cast Away starring Tom Hanks and Helen Hunt. Time is a resource that we can’t make more of. But for some reason, we have a tendency to spend our time very cheaply. If we choose to live under the relentless taskmaster of the clock, we will find ourselves unable to prioritize or choose wisely. We must embrace our responsibility to decide what to do with the time that is given to us in order to move past the reef of survival and into a life of impact. Buckle up—it’s gonna get rough. Let’s discover God’s truth in this movie.
Quotes
We have a tendency to spend our time very cheaply.
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”
If he had chosen relationship over work, his whole life would’ve been different.
Chuck did not have a good prioritization of what he actually needs.
In moments of crisis, we revert to what we know, what’s comfortable.
Being intentional means thinking about how you want to spend it (time, money, effort) before you actually spend it.
There is more to life than this life of reaction and living under the relentless burden and taskmaster of time has given me.
We focus on what we want but don’t have, instead of looking at our lives and asking what do we have that we can use.
Themes
The world on time—the time is a resource we can’t make more of.
What does Chuck do with the time that is given to him? How does he view time? Time rules over us. We live or die by the clock. We can’t commit the sin of losing track of time. He loses connection with his friends and girlfriend because of his commitment to time and work. Even on the island, he collects and sorted the packages that washed ashore. Chuck spent his life focused on time instead of relationships.
A lack of intentionality will leave us poorly prepared for the storms of life. We won’t be able to identify what we really need to survive. We will spend our time focusing on what we want but don’t have, instead of using what we do have successfully.
There is a contrast between productivity (look what I have accomplished and done) versus impact (which you can’t immediately see).
Even though we might feel alone and on an island, we are not alone. We have the Spirit of God within us.
The transformation of Chuck—capable fisherman, artist. Became intentional in his approach. Realizes what is most important (relationships).
It takes a crisis to change our habits and patterns, but we will get to a point where we know there is more to life, and will have to risk the reef to break through. There is more to life than survival.
Becoming intentional means we are able to correctly identify the priorities and choose wisely, even under pressure.
How do we escape the relentless taskmaster of time? Realize that we have power over nothing, but realize who has power over everything.
Resources
“I wish it need not happened in my life,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” – Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien
“Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear and we fly away…Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” – Psalm 90:10, 12 (NLT)
Monk Manual - Intentionality
“But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you…There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it right now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own, but will tell you what he has heard. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, “The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.” – John 16:5-7, 12-15 (NLT)
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.’ But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!” -Jeremiah 6:16 (NLT)
Questions
What consumes most of your time?
How do you spend your time?
What impact do I want to have on the people around me?
How do you react to the storms in your life?
What in your life needs to be cast away so that you can live the life you were meant to live?
How are you going to decide what to do with the time that has been given to you?