The Man from Snowy River with Paul McDonald and Britt Mooney
This week on the MATM podcast, we ride off to discuss The Man from Snowy River starring Kirk Douglas. An uninitiated man is a danger to himself and others. We must go through our initiation to learn who we are and earn our place, and is the place to put our beliefs into action. The first step is showing up, revealing our character and waiting for God to open the moment for us. Saddle up, and lets discover God’s truth in this movie.
Quotes
“A hard country makes for hard people.”
Since Harrison didn’t earn it, he took it for granted. When you earn something, you don’t take it for granted.
“Don’t throw effort after foolishness.”
If you didn’t earn it, you’re afraid of losing it.
We feel like imposters because we haven’t been through our initiation because we are hurrying to get to where we want to go.
If we eliminate conflict and confrontation and discomfort from our children’s lives, and tell them they can be whatever they want, when they suffer trauma, tragedy and frustration, they don’t know how to handle it.
Maturity is realizing all the stuff I don’t have figured out.
What God is really working on in our lives is our character.
An uninitiated man is a danger to himself and others.
Our initiation is the opportunity to put our beliefs into action.
A horse runs faster with a rider than without.
Being a man starts with showing up, and your character will reveal itself.
Too often we try to force the moment instead of waiting for God to open the moment for us.
Themes
Necessity of initiation/rite of passage, and what it looks like
Our place must be earned. Harrison didn’t earn his place in the world, while Jim is forced to.
Chaos is an agent that brings about our initiation and maturation, how character is developed. We have to learn how to live in the chaotic world.
Need to prove that you can make it, earn your way (compared to the entitled way that our culture treats things—if you want it, you should have it. Immediately.)
Community sees your gifts and calling, and bestows validation on you when you have earned it, but they have to walk you through it. The gifts given were simply opportunities to prove himself.
Learn patience, waits for the right moment. “Don’t throw effort after foolishness.” Don’t react rashly, but respond wisely.
Working in anonymity, invisible, humility.
It takes the trials to prove we are who we say we are.
Learn to do what’s right, even when it doesn’t benefit you. Finish the job.
God (and other men) are both the kitten (comforting) and the lion (pushing to move forward) in our initiation.
We wait for our moment to come, not forcing or chasing after it. He did what he could do when the moment arose.
After you go through your initiation, you know who you are.
Comparing other westerns to this one:
John Wayne/Clint Eastwood: man alone, distant, doesn’t need anyone else
Man From Snowy River: importance of community
Harrison as an uninitiated man: He didn’t earn his place, he won it, and so he felt like he could lose it. He took it for granted. He’s insecure and controlling with other people, his wife, and daughter. Harrison is reactive. Afraid of being exposed.
True community tells you that you have stuff to work on, and they believe you can do it.
Three responses to initiation: Resist it and become a wild stallion, broken spirited like a plow horse, or becoming a racehorse guided to be the fastest. God breaks us to build us into who we are meant to be.
Five things Jim does that reveal his arrival to masculinity
Shows up
Worked to make things right for others
Finished the story
Didn’t do it for money
Declared who he loved
Resources
“O Lord, we have passed through your fire; like precious metal made pure, you’ve proved us, perfected us, and made us holy. You’ve captured us, ensnared us in your net. Then, like prisoners, you placed chains around our necks. You’ve allowed our enemies to prevail against us. We’ve passed through fire and flood, yet in the end you always bring us out better than we were before, saturated with your goodness.” - Psalms 66:10-12 (TPT)
“He sent a man before them—Joseph—who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, He was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him.” - Psalms 105:17-19 (NKJV)
Banditos-The Refreshments
“How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver!” - Proverbs 16:16 (NLT)
“For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.” - Proverbs 8:11 (NLT)
“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” - Ephesians 4:1-3 (NLT)
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.” - James 1:2-8 (NLT)
The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis
“But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.” - 1 Corinthians 3:13 (NLT)
“No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” - Micah 6:8 (NLT)
Questions
What is your favorite western? What do you love about it?
Who is in your community? Who is welcome around your campfire?
“A hard country makes for hard people.” What hard country have you lived in?
What have you wanted that you had to wait for? What feelings rise when you have to wait for something (like an amazon order that takes a week)?
How has a gift turned into opportunity to prove yourself?
What’s the difference between reacting and responding to chaos and conflict? Which do you do most often?
Where do you feel like an imposter?
How do you engage at home?
Where are you being called to simply show up?
Who have you become? Who are you becoming?