Castaway.
Sure, I have seen it before. But not since it has been in theaters. I got a kick out of seeing just the title alone on the TV Guide and decided I needed to watch it again. It's surprising how pop culture can sometimes teach us the best lessons. Maybe it is all in the art of connecting the lines and spinning ideas. Or maybe the writer's know they are genius and specifically write moral code into trendy box office hits. Either way, I was struck with a VERY important lesson tonight while watching Tom Hanks struggle for his life on that island.
There is a moment where Chuck (Hanks's character) builds a raft, ties on Wilson (his best friend, who is a volleyball) and heads out to sea. He finds himself in the open ocean, thousands of miles from land and who knows how many miles from any other human. On his first night drifting out into the unending blue, he encounters a unit of whales, singing their lullaby into the dark night sky. I don't know about you, but I have always been and am a little still, afraid of the dark. Maybe it is the unknown or unseen that frightens me more. But I could never imagine being unprotected, unsheltered alone in the middle of the ocean let alone to then witness a killer whale swimming by. The things beneath Chuck and Wilson were deadly creatures who could kill with little or no effort.
But, they had a lifeline--the raft. When you think of the word "life line" you may think of the silly gameshows 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' or 'Cash Cab' where having a winning life line could win you the game and therefore lots of money. But in Chuck's situation, having a life line was the difference between life and death. Our greatest life line we have and will ever have, is God. And He too is the difference between life and death. We all too often take for granted the evil that lurks beneath the waters and in the dark abyss of night and how blessed we are to have a Savior that has already won the war for us.
After a pretty nasty storm, Chuck's raft takes a beating. He awakens to find that Wilson has fallen off of the raft and drifted out to sea. He has been alone on an island for over 4 years and his best friend in the whole world, Wilson (a volleyball) is no longer within reach. And Chuck panics. He jumps in the water ready to set out and save his friend. But swimming no further then a few feet he looks back at his raft and realizes he can not leave it behind. So he swims back, grabs a rope on the raft, and starts swimming once again toward Wilson-this time, dragging the raft by the rope as he goes. But it becomes clear very quick that he will not be successful doing this either. Trying to hold onto his life line and swim after what he wants only leaves him stuck in the middle, overwhelmed, and barely able to keep his head above water.
Now imagine that Wilson is actually something we desire. Something that is occupying our time and hearts and energy that should instead be devoted to God. Maybe it's an old flame, or a new relationship. Maybe it's a draining friend, or a busy job. Maybe it is a chaotic marriage or unorganized household. Whatever it is, picture it getting away from you. And you panic, because it's been so long since you've been without it. So you jump off your life line (away from God) and start to swim after it. Only realizing that, silly you, you need your raft! So you swim back for God, and tug him along after the thing that makes you happy. Only He won't budge. Because you can't have both. Naturally, you struggle in the middle for some time. Letting the fight overwhelm you and feeling the waves overcome you every now and then. It's time to choose one, and let go of the other. But what is your choice?
In the movie, Tom Hanks chooses the raft. Because as much as he loves Wilson, Wilson can't save him. But his raft, his life line, CAN. We as humans put so much faith into our relationships that sometimes we forget that we had a Savior come to rescue us because other humans can not. But we are stubborn and we want what we want, so we fight tooth and nail and we do not let go. We will not relinquish! But soon will come that moment, where you find yourself drifting out to sea--chasing that thing you want SO bad! You know the darkness surrounding you is waiting to eat you alive, so you must make a choice. QUICK!
When is it time to let go of that thing you keep chasing that is pulling you further and further from your life line? Who are you going to choose? The thing that can ruin you??
Or the only One who will SAVE you?
In Him,
Meg
