Lessons from the Film, “Up”

     I am not one for children’s movies.  When I was a child I thought like a child.  I had a great big imagination.  I was anyone and everyone.  But now that I am an adult I think like an adult.  However, the new film, simply titled, “Up” is an adult movie disguised as a children’s movie.  Yes, there are things in it which are silly, but it is also deeply profound, uncharacteristically so for Hollywood.  Here are some of the lessons from the film. 

People are More Important than Things.  We are told, “pursue your dreams”.  If you want to be a doctor, go for it!  If you want to sail around the world, do whatever it takes to make that dream a reality!  I don’t think there is any sin in pursuing dreams but pursuing dreams is not the most important thing in life.  People are more important than our dreams.  Our responsibilities are more important than our dreams.  God is more important than our dreams.  As Aunt May told Peter Parker, “Sometimes, to do what’s right we have to be steady and give up the things we want the most, even our dreams.” 

Heroes are not God.  Most of us know people who inspire us.  We call them “heroes”.  These are the folks we want to emulate.  However, we must be careful not to make our “heroes” into idols.  A young Christian admires the preacher because the preacher knows the Bible well and speaks passionately; then the young Christian realizes the preacher is a deeply flawed man.  This leads to disillusionment.  It’s great to be inspired by others but we must remember that there is only one true hero and he is Jesus, the Christ.

The Old are Wiser than the Young.  We live in a youth-driven culture.  In other cultures—especially tribal cultures—the elderly are revered as the wisest.  It is the old, wise man who has the final say.  Not so in America today.  The elderly are viewed as clueless and senile, stuck in the past; young people are viewed as idealistic and therefore the only hope for society.  Unfortunately, this view has invaded the church.  Where does the Bible authorize youth ministers?  Is there any apostolic precedent for youth ministers?  The answer, of course, is NO!  Young people do not need slightly older people to mentor them.  Young people need old people to mentor them.  Put another way, young people need their parents!  That is God’s way.

Boys Need Fathers.  My heart bleeds for all those who grew up without a father—especially boys.  When fathers make babies but fail to actually father them, chaos almost always follows.  I have no doubt that much of the violence in our society is caused by the absentee father.  We must be mindful of all the innocents both in and out of the church who are desperate for the love of a fatherly figure. 

Love Weathers the Storms of Life.  Dreams often don’t come true because life gets in the way.  We just can’t plan for accidents, sicknesses, tragedies, and death.  But what does it matter?  Love is more important and more powerful.  The bond between friends and family can weather the storms of life.  But does love last?  Unfortunately, love doesn’t always last, but as one person wrote:  Love ends only when we let it. 

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this:  Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 14:11 – 13)