In the run up to Toy Story 3, we’ve been watching Toy Story 1 and 2. The great thing about both movies and (according to the reviews) the new one as well, is their candor and directness. They may have a cartoonish quality and the characters may be toys, but the movies speak all the more powerfully about out lives as a result. They sneak around, under, and over our defenses.
In the jealous face off between Woody (the cowboy action figure) and Buzz (the space action figure), the movies make a number of those points. Woody, you will recall notes that Buzz can’t really fly, he falls.
That observation and others, along with his own encounter with the limitations of being an action figure bring Buzz to the brink of despair. But when he finally owns the goodness of his own existence, Buzz lives into the truth with pride.
Carrying Woody on his back as they sail through the air trying to return home to their owner, Andy, Woody observes, “Buzz, you’re flying!”
Buzz responds, “This isn’t flying, it’s falling — with style!”
Today is my birthday and I haven’t been a huge fan of any of them on this side of the 50-divide. But I am learning that there is a place for living gratefully into the days we are given as the children of God.
And it beats the alternatives:
We can measure ourselves against the un-realism of youthful expectations.
We can beat ourselves to death (almost literally) over could-of, should-of, and would-of in endless post-mortems over decisions made.
We can let anger and despair rob us of joy in what we do have.
Or we can celebrate what we have and remember that we are loved — by God and by a handful of people who know us as we are…”falling with style.”
Fred, Happy Birthday!
You are the best! If all the world were full of people like you there would be no war, no famine (at least for the Word of God), and no lack of love.
If all the world were full of people like you….and the list goes on and on
Many more happy birthdays.
Carol Lawson