Journey at the Movies 2012
“Brave – Living Boldly”
based on a sermon preached at Journey
United Church of Christ on Sunday, August 26, 2012
Every summer Journey “goes to the movies”
with a worship series that invites us to look at current films from a faith
perspective. While folks are not required to see the movie in advance,
they are encouraged to see it if at all possible. The worship services
includes an intro to the movie, related scripture, video clips from the movie
to help us make the connection and a message that brings it all together.
Our thanks to www.christinculture.com and www.holllywoodJesus.com for their insights. The video clips
used in worship can be found at www.wingclips.com and www.youtube.com
Introduction to the Film:
If you had the chance to change your
fate… would you? It’s the
dilemma that faces Princess Merida in Brave.
The movie is set in Scotland in a rugged and mythical time. Merida,
a red-haired teenage princess loves to ride her horse, shoot arrows, and loves,
loves, loves the outdoors—just as her father, King Fergus does. One thing she
doesn't enjoy, however, is the constant pressure her mother, Queen Elinor
employs to get her to behave like a "typical" princess. The ensuing
struggle with her mother leads Merida to determine if destiny is supposed to be
her fate. A jaunt into the forest leads to an encounter that puts that question
to the test—and unleashes a bravery Merida never knew existed.
Wing Clips: “Kilts”
Reading of the Day:
2 Timothy 1:3-7 (CEV)
Night and day I mention you in my prayers. I am
always grateful for you, as I pray to the God my ancestors and I have served
with a clear conscience. I remember how you cried, and I want to see you,
because that will make me truly happy. I also remember the genuine faith of
your mother Eunice. Your grandmother Lois had the same sort of faith, and I am
sure that you have it as well. So I ask you to make full use of the gift that
God gave you when I placed my hands on you. Use it well. God's Spirit doesn't
make cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control.
The Message:
Go back to your childhood – the age of 8 or 10 or
maybe 12. Do you remember what you
wanted to be when you grew up? For me it
was a teacher. I loved school and loved
most of my teachers and I wanted to be one of them when I grew up. Things changed a bit later – by the time I
got to college, I had settled on a different career path – an accountant.
Now back in those days of your childhood and youth,
did your parents or grandparents ever express dreams for what THEY wanted you
to be when you grew up? Once, I think I
remember my mom suggesting I get some training in hair cutting and styling; but
I think that had more to do with her rather self-serving hope that she could
save some money by having me do her hair regularly; I’m not sure she ever
intended it to be a career. My parents were
the type who kind of told me I could be whatever I wanted to be.
But there are parents out there who perhaps aren’t
as open minded. Sometimes their dreams
are tied to “family traditions” or family businesses. I didn’t come from a long line of pastors,
but I know people who did. Sometimes
those dreams are tied to other reasons – a career path where there is respect
and honor; a career path that might lead to a 6-figure salary; perhaps even a
career path that mom or dad was not able to take and so they hope they can live
vicariously somehow through their offspring.
Parents can do crazy things some times. This weekend marks the opening weekend for
our worship on campus as well as other programs. It also marks the beginning of “crazy parents
phone calls from parents season”. I know
most of you, as parents, would never fall into the category of being what we
affectionately refer to as “helicopter parents”, but just for the record, let
me explain a few things (all based on actual phone calls I have received from
real parents). While the campus minister
can invite your son or daughter to attend worship and email them about Bible
Study and other opportunities, they cannot and will not force them to
attend. That’s called kidnapping and
it’s illegal. When and if your son or
daughter fails to show up for the first worship service of the year, we will
keep them on the list-serv and make sure they get the e-news each week, but we
will not phone, text and “nag” them to make sure they are there next week. And “no”, the campus minister cannot and will
not call your son or daughter on Monday morning to make sure they are awake in
time to attend their first class. Most
cell phones actually have alarms built in and the campus minister observes this
thing called “no-alarm Monday”.
99% of the time, the parents I encounter through my
work on campus are lovely folks who I really enjoy getting to know. But there’s always that one … or two who make
Princess Merida’s mom, the queen, look tame.
But we all know what it’s like from time to time to have people expect
us to live, behave and act in a certain way.
For Merida, those expectations are bound in long-standing traditions … traditions that
seem unreasonable to the young princess … traditions and expectations that she
is ready to challenge …
VIDEO: Tease
When we enter into the openings words of the letter
the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, we catch a glimpse into some family dynamics
that a bit different. Paul – the apostle
– is writing as a Timothy’s wise “old” mentor.
He has, in many ways, watched Timothy grow up … at least in a spiritual
sense. And he is grateful. He’s so grateful that he announces that his
prayers are filled with thanksgiving … thanksgiving for Timothy’s life and thanksgiving
for the long-standing family traditions that formed Timothy’s sense of call to
a life of service. He gives thanks for
his grandmother Lois, his mother Eunice who’s faith has inspired the young man. He gives thanks that he himself, was able to
“lay hands” on Timothy – words that convey his ordination that marks his entry
into that ministry. But in the midst of all the thanksgiving, he also gives
this challenge… God’s spirit doesn’t make
cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us
power, love and self-control. 2 Timothy
1:7 It’s Paul’s challenge to young
Timothy to put aside any timidity and to embrace a commitment to live his live life
boldly. Perhaps Paul understands the
challenges that Timothy will face. After
all, he’s “been there, done that”.
That’s where Merida’s story resembles that of young
Timothy. Her father, the King, has
empowered her to live boldly. To embrace
the challenges before her … in ways that are not resemble how most princesses
would handle life’s challenges. Her path
towards change is laid before her the first time he sets her on a horse and
allows her to go hunting with him. And
each time she lifts her bow and arrow, her boldness grows. Merida’s story comes
with an additional warning that is bound in the advice from Paul to Timothy as
well … . You see in the midst of
challenging the status quo, Merida fails to head some cautionary advice from
her mother and in her challenge crosses a line where she is not simply acting
with boldness, but acting in anger. It’s
that anger that leads her to a witch and a spell that results in her mother
being turned into a bear.
The cautionary tale challenges us to consider it
“what does it mean for us to live boldly without turning our mother into a
bear”. What does it mean for us to live
boldly, but as Paul urges young Timothy, to balance his power with love and
self-control.
Now we may be tempted to think that the advice is
suited for pastor-types like Timothy and people in positions of power like
Merida … but those words come to all of us regardless of our occupation or
career path. They come to each of us regardless
of our age, our status, our rank or our position in life. It’s God’s challenge for each of us to live
our lives boldly in whatever way we can .. to live with power, and love and
self-control.
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