“Do you know what the scariest thing is?”
This is the key question raised in the movie, Unbreakable. It’s asked by Elijah Price, one of the two main characters.
Unbreakable is the first film in a trilogy (followed by Split and then Glass) by M. Night Shyamalan, the creative person who brought us The Sixth Sense. It’s the story of two extraordinary men. The first is David Dunn, a man who is forced to accept that he is invulnerable after he is the only survivor of a horrific accident (or, was it an accident?). It’s also the story of Elijah Price. More about him in a minute.
Elijah Price, for his part, supplies an answer —at least his answer— to his question: “To not know your place in this world, to not know why you're here.”
You see, Elijah Price was born with bones that break very easily. Because he was so breakable, other children dubbed him “Mr. Glass.” His affliction fills him with fear, but not the fear you might assume. He fears that all the pain, all the surgeries and hospital stays, all the casts, and all the metal pins in his bones, may all be for nothing. He fears he may be afflicted this way … for no reason whatsoever.
To Elijah Price, that is the scariest thing.
In this week’s scriptures, we read of four people who also experienced pain and fear. First, there’s King David. Despite many fearful life experiences, David persevered because he had a close relationship with God. He knew his place in this world. Also, there’s the Prophet Ezekiel. He was surrounded by people God compared to briars, thorns, and scorpions. He persevered because he was chosen by God to bring God’s word to them. He knew his place in this world.
Then, in the New Testament, there’s the Apostle Paul, afflicted with his “thorn in the flesh.” He knew it’s purpose was to show the extension of God’s grace to a flawed vessel. He knew his place in this world. And, finally, we see Jesus on a visit to his hometown, having a shocking encounter with the life He might have had. Because he can’t do, there, the kinds of amazing miracles he had done everywhere else, He must carry the good news elsewhere ... to people more receptive to His message. He knew his place in this world.
Elijah Price, in seeking his place in this world, shapes his life around a vision of who he might be. It is a vision he formed in isolation … and it is very dark. On the other hand, each person in this week’s scriptures was open to God’s leading and instruction concerning who and what he was. Yes, it’s true they also experienced fear and pain in their lives; but not a fear of what purpose they served. Each, because of his relationship with God, knew his place in this world.
The scariest thing is not the conclusion reached by Elijah Price; though it could be if, like him, you pursued the answer in isolation.
The scariest thing is to live your life without God in it. Your place is with Him; and when you choose it, no one can separate you from His love. It is unbreakable.
_________________________
PHOTO CREDIT: “Thorns” by Steve Orr
_________________________
We continue to meet DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast every Friday morning at 8:00. Join us on Zoom for an hour of food, fellowship, and scripture.
Blessings,
Steve
Contact me for the Zoom link
NOTE: Zoom allows you to mute the camera if you don’t wish to be seen and to mute the microphone if you don’t wish to speak.
SCRIPTURES FOR THE COMING WEEK
Find them here:
2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10
Psalm 48
Ezekiel 2:1-5
Psalm 123
2 Corinthians 12:2-10
Mark 6:1-13
No comments:
Post a Comment