Good Will Hunting with Paul McDonald and Britt Mooney

This week on the Men at the Movies podcast, we try out our Boston accents and talk about Good Will Hunting starring Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Minnie Driver, and Ben Affleck. Like Will, we have an amazing gift, but the pain of our past leaves us incapable of using that gift in a way that matters. We were created to desire two things: intimacy and purpose; but we can’t pursue our purpose without being grounded in intimacy. Thankfully, Will had Shawn, Skylar, and Chucky to help him navigate through the brokenness to find healing and restoration. So, how about them apples…and let’s discover God’s truth in this movie.

Quotes

• We have won the lottery by receiving the power of the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, but the devil tries to manipulate and break us so that we hide the best thing about us.

• The pain and abuse of Will’s past has left him incapable of using his gifts in a way that matters.

• Stories have depth and are complex, whereas theology is just complicated. Intelligence and knowledge won’t bring healing.

• We all desire two things: intimacy and purpose. Sometimes there’s a tension between the two.

• We can’t pursue our purpose without being grounded in intimacy.

• I want to be sure that if and when success comes, I am able to handle it in a way that would not leave my family in the dust.

• Our job in the body of Christ is to see more in others than they see in themselves, to say, “I want to know you. I want to be with you.  I believe in you.”

• If you can’t find intimacy, you’ll never find your purpose, not with any real meaning.

• People need to know that you can escape the loop of your routine life. 

 Themes

• How Shawn, Skylar, and Chucky walk him through the process of restoration. Each one thinks more of Will than he thinks of himself.

  • Shawn: Took Will’s best shot and didn’t give up on him.  Called him out for being a coward. Life isn’t mean to be read about, it’s meant to be lived. He actually sees Will. He challenged and pushed Will because he loved him.  He wants to know Will, the offer of intimacy. He sees his gift, but cares more about the person than the gift. The most important thing to have is trust.  Admits perfection is a myth, and it’s the imperfections that make us who we are. He accepted Will because of his imperfections. It’s a reciprocal relationship.

  • Skylar: Using the same words Shawn did, but pulling something else out of him.  He believed she didn’t want to hear about his traumatic past, that she wouldn’t love him if she really knew him.  When she invited him to go to California with him, she was asking him to leave his illusion of a safe life.  She was willing to give it a shot. She pushes him to be better than he thinks he can be.

  • Chucky: He knows his friend is wasting his purpose. He knew everything about Will, and would take a bullet for Will (and Will would take a bullet for Chucky). Realizes that Will will never leave without a push, and is willing to do that (risk his friendship, saying something hard) so that Will can find wholeness and purpose. Wants to be inspired by Will, utilize his gift and offer hope.

• We are like Will:

  • Split in ambivalence: we have a tremendous gift, but have been hurt in life that has broken our ability to use it. We must navigate through the brokenness to find healing and wholeness.

  • Want to be a smart, confident man, but inside we feel like a scared little kid.

  • Holds on to the illusion of a safe, stable, controlled life.

  • We don’t feel safe to be ourselves.

• Will and Shawn both change throughout the movie and leave their safe environments to live an adventurous life.

Resources

• “In each of my friends, there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out. By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his facets.” C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

• “If we do not transform our pain, we will most assuredly transmit it.” - Richard Rohr

Questions

• Where do you have an illusion of a safe little life?

• Where are you being invited to give it a shot, venture into the unknown?

• What are you afraid that others will find out/think about you?

• Who plays the different roles in your life?  Shawn? Skylar? Chucky?

• Which roles do you play in the lives of those around you?

• Who thinks more highly of you than you do?

• How are intimacy and purpose linked?

• Where do you find purpose?

• How is intimacy fostered?  With whom?

• Who inspires you? In what way?

• How can you inspire others?