The Sandlot with Paul McDonald and Britt Mooney
This week on the Men at the Movies podcast, we look at The Sandlot as a way to build friendships and find joy. We’ve got to break out of our comfortable rut, but it’s through new experiences that relationships are strengthened. To make memories and find joy, we have to engage the senses. But if we can do that, we will find that every day is an adventure. You’re killing me Smalls, and let’s discover God’s truth in this movie.
Quotes
Our brains are basically lazy. We want to settle for a comfortable rut.
We want formula, but God invites us to relationship. But with formula, there are no surprises.
What brings people together is going through new experiences together.
We make friends by engaging in adventure and play.
Instead of pushing towards the more, we settle for the less.
To make memories, you’ve got to engage the senses.
Every day is an adventure.
Maturity isn’t that you don’t play anymore. It’s knowing the importance of play and doing it on purpose.
In the Kingdom, we can approach life being grateful for the past, acknowledging the importance of the moment, based on what we know to be true in the future.
Themes
It’s a movie that harkens us back to that age, the time of innocent childhood.
The importance of friendships
Shape who we become
Grow through shared new experiences
Made through adventure and play
It’s easier to hide in our rooms than to risk looking stupid.
The importance of Benny (the person we most long for, and are most afraid of not getting): invites Smalls to play, gives him a glove and a hat, defends him to the other guys, teaches him how to play, sets him up for success, and suggests clothes to wear. Everything he does with Smalls is intended to help him belong.
Nostalgia—joy with a little bit of pain. Happy memories with a bit sorrow that those days are gone.
Go be a kid again. Embrace the childhood wonders and joy of making s’mores. It’s messy but delicious. Engage the senses.
Call to action: Engage in play-do something just for the joy of doing it. Engage your senses (make some s’mores, do something you would love to do).
Resources
“The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer” Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” - Romans 12:15 (NIV)
Questions
What are the sandlot type memories from your childhood? Who’s there? Where were you? What were you doing?
Think back to some of your happiest memories. Where is there a bit of nostalgia, a twinge of sorrow involved?
When was the last time you were so excited you freaked out?
Do you approach your days expecting to be surprised by God? What would that look like?
What was the last playful thing you did? Something you did simply for the joy of doing it?
What new experiences are you engaging in?
When was the last time you made s’mores?
How can you engage the senses in a playful way?
How does a cynical or skeptical approach shut you down to experience joy and surprise?
What would it look like to approach each day with childlike wonder?
How do you receive extravagant gifts? “It’s too much?” Try to balance the scales, like you have to give them an awesome gift in exchange? Can you receive it with simple gratitude and joy?