My Hero this Christmas Is WALL-E
I was watching WALL-E last night, & loving it. What's not to like? It's intelligent & heavily-layered, weaving together themes like environmental consciousness, the ability to overcome our programming (whether robot or human), the ability to inspire others to overcome their programming, and, of course, pursuing love with a fierce, self-sacrificial perseverance. And who doesn't love a good underdog story? He enters the scene equipped with less resources & ability than the average joe. But I love it when someone ignores their supposed limitations or handicaps to overcome the role in life that others have assigned to them. It takes the stinging insult & weakness of being the underdog, wears it as a badge of courage, and turns it into even greater strength & victory.
And what I love about WALL-E is that, despite being a tiny, simple trash-compacting bot, he supercedes his programming... to develop deep appreciation in finding beauty in random things... to bumblingly pursue the more hip, more powerful, sleek, high-end, Apple iPod-esque EVE... and to persevere through crushing trials to become the hero for robots & mankind. He is a total gangsta. And how cool is it that he gets the girl? I feel him; I often feel like a simple, small pastor-bot pursuing a girl as wonderful as Melissa (who is totally my Apple-esque EVE). WALL-E gives hope to the rest of us underdogs. =]
I think that's what I like about the Christmas story too. Jesus pursues us with such deep affection and love, like WALL-E pursuing EVE. But instead of winning our hearts with a polished act & cheap tricks, like some slimy poseur pimping a big bankroll, shiny sportscar, expensive gifts & flowers & dinners to impress a girl (until he gets what he wants), Jesus chooses a much harder path. Instead of rolling up with the riches & power of God, He chooses to come in weakness, in poverty. No flash, no shortcuts. Born in the stink of an animal stall? To teen parents? Hunted throughout childhood by a king (Herod) insecure enough to slaughter every boy in Bethlehem because he felt politically threatened by the whispers of One to come [Matthew 2:13-18]? You must be kidding. Tough break, kid.
I like it though. It shows the lengths He's willing to go, to be together with us. He risks everything, vulnerable & destitute... and not just as an infant, but throughout His whole life. Isaiah 53:2-3 describes Him as one who "grew up like a tender shoot, like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering... and we esteemed Him not." And still He pursues us, endures, sacrifices everything, overcoming every limitation to reach us, out of deep, fierce love and affection for us. He's the underdog hero, my WALL-E.
And what I love about WALL-E is that, despite being a tiny, simple trash-compacting bot, he supercedes his programming... to develop deep appreciation in finding beauty in random things... to bumblingly pursue the more hip, more powerful, sleek, high-end, Apple iPod-esque EVE... and to persevere through crushing trials to become the hero for robots & mankind. He is a total gangsta. And how cool is it that he gets the girl? I feel him; I often feel like a simple, small pastor-bot pursuing a girl as wonderful as Melissa (who is totally my Apple-esque EVE). WALL-E gives hope to the rest of us underdogs. =]
I think that's what I like about the Christmas story too. Jesus pursues us with such deep affection and love, like WALL-E pursuing EVE. But instead of winning our hearts with a polished act & cheap tricks, like some slimy poseur pimping a big bankroll, shiny sportscar, expensive gifts & flowers & dinners to impress a girl (until he gets what he wants), Jesus chooses a much harder path. Instead of rolling up with the riches & power of God, He chooses to come in weakness, in poverty. No flash, no shortcuts. Born in the stink of an animal stall? To teen parents? Hunted throughout childhood by a king (Herod) insecure enough to slaughter every boy in Bethlehem because he felt politically threatened by the whispers of One to come [Matthew 2:13-18]? You must be kidding. Tough break, kid.
I like it though. It shows the lengths He's willing to go, to be together with us. He risks everything, vulnerable & destitute... and not just as an infant, but throughout His whole life. Isaiah 53:2-3 describes Him as one who "grew up like a tender shoot, like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering... and we esteemed Him not." And still He pursues us, endures, sacrifices everything, overcoming every limitation to reach us, out of deep, fierce love and affection for us. He's the underdog hero, my WALL-E.