Hi Friends,

The Covid lockdowns have had such widespread disastrous effects. From learning loss, to recklessly devaluing hard work, to creating and validating neurotic fears, sadly these harms are not going away anytime soon. Given all this, I guess it’s not the end of the world that movie theaters are on the brink of failure, but I used to love going to the movies. In fact, I enjoy them now, even though they feel a little cavernous when most of the time there are only a handful of other moviegoers. This week, I finally saw Inside Out 2. It was extremely well done. If you’ve seen it, you know how artistically it portrays our emotions, and in particular the concept of dying of embarrassment! So funny.

From a theological perspective it is not exactly accurate, but I always find it interesting that when a storyline even hints at the truth, it invariably feels emotionally weighty. The simple tune of the Inside Out theme contrasts in a profound way with the depth of what is being acknowledged: People are complicated. People are sinful. Life can be hard. But Love is powerful.

The main character in Inside Out, Riley, demonstrates a recognition, even a horror, of her own sin. She wants to flee it. She wants to be a good person. Meanwhile, the “Joy” component of her emotions wants to boot every bad experience she’s ever had to the fringes of her subconscious. It is a fair representation of what society teaches us to do. In fact, our culture encourages us to blame others when we are forced to acknowledge any defect in our character.

The movie almost feels to me like pre-evangelism. It so aptly portrays the problem. We have many experiences that we have difficulty sorting into a cohesive picture of who we are. We are hurt and need to extend forgiveness, and we have our own shortcomings that also need to be dealt with. A lovely ending would have been for Riley to comprehend for the first time that Jesus is the answer!

I can envision the Joy character just elated to realize that Jesus provides power to forgive others and ensures a clean inner slate every morning! It could have flowed beautifully.

As an aside there is a scene where teenage angst and pressure are eating at Riley. Physically she is rocking and back and forth, gasping for air. Meanwhile, the visual at the control desk of emotions is that Anxiety has created a tempest, swirling and swirling, forcefully pushing everything else to the fringes. This too paints a true-to-life experience and is an invitation for the Gospel. Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life…Look at the birds of the air…Consider the lilies of the field…seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6: 25a, 26a, 28b, 33.

“You could do nothing more important than to wake up every morning of your life and remind yourself that the One who created and controls everything that exists has been made, by grace, to be your Father…He is always with you. His hand is always upon you. He never stops watching you. His heart is always for you.” — Paul David Tripp.

The movies of our lives always point to the hole in our hearts. Any light shown in the darkness points to the hole. Any tiny glimpse of truth lets in a beam of light. I hope you know that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and that His heart is always for you.

With Love,

Kristie

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