I Went to see the Movie After Earth with Andy A Hernandez
and another friend. For the younger folk there was too much talk
between father & son... and not enough action. The trailer sold the
movie as more fast-paced than it really is...
I was fascinated by it trying to tackle our relationship as human beings to fear.
Later I realized that it seemed to have a stoic kind of anti-emotional
response that connects with L Ron Hubbard's teaching in Dianetics: http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/05/is-after-earth-influenced-by-scientology
or is it just taping into a larger vision of the Hero myth and a coming of age story.
I liked the movie because it puts character growth back on the big
screen as something that matters. This is also true for the movie
Karate' Kid and its remake. Also there is a concrete effort to pass on a
legacy from Will Smith to his son. Jealousy and advantage... in
Hollywood can be the color of coffee.
What matters to me most
is how we as Christians approach teaching people to live transformed
lives. Christ does not walk the path of the Roman triumphant hero...
but that of a Suffering Servant. If victory means facing your fears and
over-coming them... Love & Compassion require even more strength.
In the movie the father keeps calling his son back to his mind and his
senses. We as Christians draw on something deeper. The Holy Spirit of
God.
If any handful of Christians would live into the grace
found in the prayer of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:14-21. Then...
We would not be retreating from the challenges in the world... we would
instead be positioned to be in that great company of those who overcome
and stand in this world through faith -- Hebrews 11. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+3%3A14-21%2C+Hebrews+11%2C+II+Peter+1%3A3-11&version=NIV
I agree with Martin Luther King. What we really want is "soul
force"... the grace of God at work within us constraining us and
carrying us through our fears. This can transcend what the mind knows
or the heart feels because we enter into a sustaining fellowship which
is rooted in the love of God. I John 1: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I+John+1&version=NIV
I find it interesting that this movie openly displays the deep wound
that exists between so many men and their sons. Something that the
church needs to explore and provide much more solid answers for... I am
looking forward to reading Gordon Dalbey's new book: Sons of the
Father: Healing the Father-Wound in Men Today to draw on the wisdom he
has to offer on this topic: http://www.amazon.com/Sons-Father-Healing-Father-Wound-Today/dp/0615521304/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370285338&sr=1-3&keywords=gordon+dalbey
In contrast to Iron Man, The Hulk, and Spider Man... Will Smith plays a
man of Character & Integrity rooted in the history of experience
and and learning. When was the last time you saw a real call for
discipline of any sort on the big screen? Sadly some of my friends said
they would have rather seen Hangover 3 or Fast & Furious 6. Wake
up People... who you are on the inside is who you live with 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year... and this is also who you share
with everyone else. Maturity matters. Generations matter. And We Need
to Pay attention to the struggles involved in growing into mature &
wise adults.
