Red One
We were looking for a movie last Saturday and my wife suggested Red One. She told me that it was a Christmas movie. I’ll admit I was expecting some kind of Hallmark-type movie, but I agreed to give it a try.
Spoiler alert on plot:
The main plot of the movie is trying to rescue Santa after he gets kidnapped. There are two main characters, Duane Johnson (yes, The Rock) who plays an ELF (you’ll have to watch the movie to see why that is capitalized) and Chris Evans who plays the unwitting human that gets wrapped up in the rescue operation.
The movie was action based and fun. I admit that I enjoyed it. However, what struck me after the movie was over was the angst these two characters were experiencing. Chris Evans’ character was the stereotypical person who has fallen into bad behavior so far that he doesn’t see a way out of it. If I remember correctly, he was classified as a level 4 on the naughty list (it’s never disclosed the scale determinations). During the course of the movie, he recognizes his deviant behavior and incrementally strives to better his behavior until the end where he redeems himself.
I kept thinking of people that have told me that they aren’t that bad and are much better than others or strive to do good deeds to make themselves look better to others. My own son has used that argument with me. It’s amazing that people know there is sin but work so hard to either lift themselves up by comparing their sin burden to others or try to plaster it over with a few “good” works.
“For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” - Romans 2:12-16 ESV
Duane Johnson’s character, the ELF, began the movie with his resignation letter. After watching humans, in general, he had become jaded that there wasn’t any real chance of redemption for humans. In other words, he only saw the bad. This is another recurring movie theme based on the human condition. An example is when you get a new car (or a new to you car). I’ve always been amazed how many cars, the same model as mine, are on the road after I get that new car. When you have something in your mind and start looking for it, you’ll find it.
If you are talking about other cars that are the same make as yours, the effect is harmless. When you feel like you’ve been mistreated because of your attribute (race, gender, tattoos, piercings, weight, etc.), all of sudden, you see that mistreatment everywhere you look (real or not). For example, I’ve caught myself (many times unfortunately), driving down the highway and suddenly believing the driver next to me is trying to tick me off intentionally (for example, camping in the passing lane). This could lead me to accelerating to an unsafe speed to get around this perceived maniac, putting both of us at risk. I have to remind myself that the person, in all likelihood, has no idea what is going on in my head or if they are doing anything to trigger it.
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” - Luke 6:27-31, 37-38
I’ve always believed the concept that we all have a God shaped hole in our soul. Even movie writers understand this even if they don’t know exactly why that hole is there. The question is whether you will open your heart and soul up to God to fill that hole or whether you will try to do it yourself through some other means. I’m pretty sure I know the path that will be successful, how about you?
