The Adam Project with Paul McDonald and Britt Mooney
This week on the Men at the Movies podcast, we enter the timeline with The Adam Project starring Ryan Reynolds, Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, and Zoe Saldana. Great stories are woven around stakes, goals, and even battles that are personal—because our lives are. Our actions have consequences, and our biggest impact is revealed in the lives of those around you. And our legacy will be determined by our ability to listen to the truth from the Father—You’re my son, and I love you, and you’re amazing. Let’s smoke this banana….or something, and discover God’s truth in this movie.
Quotes
In good storytelling, the stakes and the goals have to be personal, because our lives are personal.
“I spent thirty years trying to get away from the me that was you… but you were the best part all along.”
Older Adam experiences transformation and healing of his heart through the acceptance and forgiveness of his younger self.
If there’s a part of you that you hate, you will always remain a fractured person.
We can’t change our past, but we can change how we view it.
We’ve all made mistakes that we still hold ourselves accountable for. We can never let ourselves off the hook.
Confession is just agreeing with truth. The father isn’t going to let us live according to a lie.
Knowing the Father’s love gives us the security for going into the world and loving others.
Jesus needed to hear that he was loved, and that didn’t make him imperfect.
God takes all that you ever did and redeems it for His glory.
Our biggest impact comes with the people who are closest to us.
Sadness and anger both keep us from becoming whole hearted.
“You’re my son, and I love you, and you’re amazing.”
God sees you in eternity future.
What’s most important is how you impact the lives of those around you.
Themes
Creativity doesn’t always mean coming up with a completely new idea or concept. It could be taking established ideas and blending them in new combinations.
The driving force and motivation of stories that move us have stakes that are personal more than global.
The idea of legacy and our impact on the world around us. Our actions have consequences.
The transformation of older Adam reflects the change we need. Both Adam’s are still dealing with the loss of the father. Older Adam has regrets and hatred for the actions of his younger self. He has to learn to forgive younger Adam in order to find healing.
How to find healing and forgiveness for the past: Confession is just agreeing with the truth. The prodigal son could’ve stayed in the pigpen, but it wasn’t the truth of who he was. We don’t live according to the truth of being loved. When you live according to the truth, you are able to love others sacrificially and selflessly, without needing something for yourself.
We need to have a conversation with God about how he views our younger selves.
We often get the opportunity for a do over—not to change the past, but to do it like we wished we did it the first time. When we start living by truth, we can be confident that all things will work for our good. But if you don’t live by the truth, none of it matters.
Practical agnosticism—we say know God loves us, but we don’t really live like it.
People got the chance to say the things they never got to say.
Our legacy comes from the people around us, and the impact we have on those around us.
Resources
Shawn Levy IMDB
If the attack from the enemy feels personal, that’s because it is. - Allen Arnold, Chaos Can’t
We are always every age we have always been. -Madelene L’engle
If you could do it, I suppose, it would be a good idea to live your life in a straight line - starting, say, in the Dark Wood of Error, and proceeding by logical steps through Hell and Purgatory and into Heaven. Or you could take the King's Highway past the appropriately named dangers, toils, and snares, and finally cross the River of Death and enter the Celestial City. But that is not the way I have done it, so far. I am a pilgrim, but my pilgrimage has been wandering and unmarked. Often what has looked like a straight line to me has been a circling or a doubling back. I have been in the Dark Wood of Error any number of times. I have known something of Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, but not always in that order. The names of many snares and dangers have been made known to me, but I have seen them only in looking back. Often I have not known where I was going until I was already there. I have had my share of desires and goals, but my life has come to me or I have gone to it mainly by way of mistakes and surprises. Often I have received better than I deserved. Often my fairest hopes have rested on bad mistakes. I am an ignorant pilgrim, crossing a dark valley. And yet for a long time, looking back, I have been unable to shake off the feeling that I have been led - make of that what you will. - Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” - Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” - Hebrews 12:2 (NLT)
Questions
What younger self do you regard with shame? Regret? Hatred? Loathing?
How would it feel to forgive that younger part of you? To welcome him home?
What needs to be said to someone? Parents? Spouse? Kids? Yourself? God? Mentor? Friends?
“You’re my son, and I love you, and you’re amazing.” Do you feel like that’s true? What would it take for you to believe it?
What do you think you’ll look like in heaven? What words would describe your finished self?
Who will you become?
What is the impact on those around you? Can you ask your wife, kids, friends (and receive it without becoming defensive)?