SIGNS

luke led a discussion of the movie Signs last night at the church office.  the movie was both funnier and scarier than i remember it being--i think due to watching it with a great group.  i was sitting in the corner and kept checking behind me, and i'm sorry to say luke that I heard suspicious sounds coming from the region of your desk.  

during the credits, matt cracked his knuckles just as luke shifted in his chair--and what did it sound EXACTLY like?  the alien language. 

then in the middle of the night, my eyes fly open, i'm drenched in sweat, and guess who's stomach is making clicking sounds EXACTLY like the alien language?  that's right, jared.  i was awake for at least an hour in terror.  i really had to pee but no way was i getting out of that bed.  after all my talk i had forgotten to bring a glass of water to bed with me to protect me from aliens. 

i hope that i won't be thinking about the movie in the middle of night anymore, but i do hope that i will think about it during the day.  a big theme of the movie is spiritual sulking, which i am right in right now.  jared pointed out during the discussion last night that the little boy says to his dad, "i hate you" five minutes before the dad, in desperation, finally prays to God, "don't do this to me again.  i hate you.  i hate you!" the juxtaposition makes it clear that even the midst of genuine suffering (danger, loss of a beloved spouse), closing your heart to God is as foolish as a little child thinking he will feel better if he can close his heart to his dad.  during the whole movie, the son was turning away from the dad, refusing to be comforted by him, mimicking and highlighting the dad's behavior to God. it was clear as day that the son did not hate his dad but was immersed in his pain.  he loved his dad and would benefit from being comforted by him. 

someone else during the discussion pointed out that we aren't supposed to look for signs and miracles and i enjoy how the new testament models a tension about miracles.  it is sinful and foolish to WAIT for signs and miracles to believe, but God willingly stoops to comfort and help us in our unbelief by using signs and miracles.  i mean little miracles, more like beautiful, symbolic coincidences--they happen every day!  this movie challenged me to pray to see those things in my life instead of sulking.

i also was convicted because i saw how a person of any faith could watch this movie and relate to it, because it's easy and natural to hate "someone" when bad things happen and to feel a recipient-less gratitude when good things happen.  i think this natural reaction is a pointer to God.  but how much of MY faith stops at that level of innate gut-reaction instead of knowing the "someone" as a real person--bringing my case against, thanking, and longing for the real person of God?