This past month we have explored five different stories from movies.  I hoped that reflecting with me on the positive and negative spiritual insights in these movies has helped you grow not only in your faith but also in your ability to pick up different philosophical, and theological ideas that may be hidden within the special effects and stories.

Jungle Book: A young human boy named Mowgli was rescued as a baby from death by a panther named Bagheera.  Bagheera entrusts Mowgli to a pack of wolves led by Akela.  Akela tries to raise Mowgli as a wolf and therefore looks down upon him when Mowgli uses his human reasoning to invent tools to make his life easier.  During a particular dry year, a truce is called in the jungle and everyone gathers around the river.  At the river Sheer Khan, a tiger, makes it known that he plans to kill Mowgli when the drought ends.  Bagheera decides that the best thing for Mowgli is that he be taken to the man village at the edge of the jungle.   

As we continue to look at some of the stories that were made movies this past year, let us remember to explore some of the spiritual insights the author may have planted in the movies (knowingly or unknowingly).

Let us spend sometime today reflecting on the movie: Rogue 1: A Star Wars Movie.   Rogue 1: A Star Wars Movie There were once two scientists who were best of friends.  The first was a man named Galen Erso and the second was a man named Orson Krennic.  At some point, Galen Erso discovers or reasons that the scientific breakthroughs that he and his partner are working on can be used for great evil and so he takes his family and goes into hiding.  Orson Krennic uses the research in order to advance in rank in the Empire.  Krennic eventually tracks down his old friend and forces him to help complete building the Death Star.  Erso helps build the weapon but includes a design flaw in it.  He hopes he can get word about the defect to his daughter Jyn so that she can help the Rebel Alliance destroy his evil invention. 

Ernest Kurtz and Katherine Ketcham in their book: The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning has the following to say about storytelling: “For once upon a time, people told stories.  In the midst of sorrow, and in the presence of joy, both mourners and celebrants told stories. But especially in times of trouble, when “a miracle” was needed and the limits of human ability were reached, people turned to storytelling as a way of exploring the fundamental mysteries:  Who are we? How are we to live?”  In keeping with my tradition and acknowledging the power of a story, I will share with you some spiritual reflection on different movies.