“Mike
Wazowski!”
Wazowski!”
I took my son to see
Monsters University on Monday. Totally
cute movie and unlike Man of Steel, I
didn’t cry through the entire film. You can read my post Man of Steel vs. the Cross HERE.
Monsters University on Monday. Totally
cute movie and unlike Man of Steel, I
didn’t cry through the entire film. You can read my post Man of Steel vs. the Cross HERE.
But something hit me
for sure. (I don’t think I’m giving away spoilers, but it’s a kids’ movie, so
do you really care?)
for sure. (I don’t think I’m giving away spoilers, but it’s a kids’ movie, so
do you really care?)
All Mike ever
wanted was to be a scarer. But no one believed he could. Yet, he had
faith. It was his dream.
wanted was to be a scarer. But no one believed he could. Yet, he had
faith. It was his dream.
He
was going to show the world.
was going to show the world.
Enter Monsters
University and the Scare program. He worked harder and longer than
anyone–especially Sully. He had a lot to prove.
University and the Scare program. He worked harder and longer than
anyone–especially Sully. He had a lot to prove.
During an argument
(Mike once again proving he was good enough) he and Sully caused an accident
and it landed them out of the Scare program.
(Mike once again proving he was good enough) he and Sully caused an accident
and it landed them out of the Scare program.
Mike and Sully’s
dreams seemed destroyed. Then Mike remembered the Scare Games–a competition
amongst fraternities. He bet the dean he could win them and if he did, she’d
have to admit she’d been wrong and he was the scariest.
dreams seemed destroyed. Then Mike remembered the Scare Games–a competition
amongst fraternities. He bet the dean he could win them and if he did, she’d
have to admit she’d been wrong and he was the scariest.
Once
again, Mike sought his dream. But it was for his own glory. His own good. His
own fame.
again, Mike sought his dream. But it was for his own glory. His own good. His
own fame.
The most unlikely
band of monsters came together and they learned valuable lessons: Team work,
camaraderie, and even friendship. But Mike still had his eye (ha, don’t pardon
the one-eyed pun) on himself. His end goals.
band of monsters came together and they learned valuable lessons: Team work,
camaraderie, and even friendship. But Mike still had his eye (ha, don’t pardon
the one-eyed pun) on himself. His end goals.
While they seemed to
have won, Sully cheated. Because Mike, well…he just wasn’t scary.
have won, Sully cheated. Because Mike, well…he just wasn’t scary.
That little diddy
landed their expulsion.
landed their expulsion.
What happened to
Mike’s dream? Poof! Gone.
Mike’s dream? Poof! Gone.
Was it?
What he learned
through a few more scenes was he was okay being just okay. And what Sully learned was, Mike wasn’t just okay.
He was brilliant. They never could have made it as far as they had in the games
or in that final battle had it not been for Mike.
through a few more scenes was he was okay being just okay. And what Sully learned was, Mike wasn’t just okay.
He was brilliant. They never could have made it as far as they had in the games
or in that final battle had it not been for Mike.
Mike decides, you
know what? We’re not beaten. We’re not down. And he and Sully start out at the
Scare Company’s mail room. Photos in their work locker show them moving up in
the ranks. Starting at the bottom and working up.
know what? We’re not beaten. We’re not down. And he and Sully start out at the
Scare Company’s mail room. Photos in their work locker show them moving up in
the ranks. Starting at the bottom and working up.
Until finally, they
make it to the scare room floor.
make it to the scare room floor.
And that’s when a
spiritual lesson hit me.
spiritual lesson hit me.
Sometimes we fail
because we’re chasing after our own glory. We want to prove we can do something
just for the sake of being somebody special.
because we’re chasing after our own glory. We want to prove we can do something
just for the sake of being somebody special.
But
you are special. I’m special. To God.
you are special. I’m special. To God.
And sometimes our
dreams won’t always come in the ways we expect them. They won’t be big and
flashy. They’ll come small and steady. You can read about small beginnings
HERE.
dreams won’t always come in the ways we expect them. They won’t be big and
flashy. They’ll come small and steady. You can read about small beginnings
HERE.
Sometimes it’s a
process of starting in the mail room, being diligent and persevering that
inches us toward our passion.
process of starting in the mail room, being diligent and persevering that
inches us toward our passion.
Sometimes, God keeps
us low, so He can go high. He has lessons in character building He needs us to
learn, and He wants the glory. If we are faithful with little, we’ll be ruler
over much.
us low, so He can go high. He has lessons in character building He needs us to
learn, and He wants the glory. If we are faithful with little, we’ll be ruler
over much.
Laboring
is hard work. It takes time. Endurance.
is hard work. It takes time. Endurance.
“For God is not unjust to forget your
work and labor of love which
you have shown toward His name, in
that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”
Hebrews 6:10
work and labor of love which
you have shown toward His name, in
that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”
Hebrews 6:10
The question is, who
are you laboring for? Love for God or for yourself?
are you laboring for? Love for God or for yourself?
“Be…not lagging in diligence, fervent
in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing
in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;…”
in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing
in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;…”
Romans 12:10-12
Would
you say you’ve been enduring with diligence and the
you say you’ve been enduring with diligence and the
right focus or not?
Definitely a good reminder. God's idea of great is not always our idea of great… But His idea is always the greatest. 😉
Ah, so good. And I love this: Sometimes, God keeps us low, so He can go high.
Perfect.
(I so want to see Monsters University!!)
Fun post! I've definitely had times in my writing journey when I've had to step back and make sure I'm in it for the right reasons. I've even had to completely give it up for periods of time just so God could do some work on my heart.
Okay, so I went to Monsters University at a drive-in with friends…but ended up falling asleep multiple times so I think I missed some crucial plot points. HAHA! But I love your take on it…and from what I did stay awake for, I took away the fact that Mike's dream came true in a way that looked a lot different than planned. And yeah, goodness, that's just life so often isn't it!
As for diligent endurance…yeah. I think I've mostly been diligent but it hasn't always been for the right reasons. Thankfully God is pretty good about yanking me back to his purposes! 🙂
Wow, wow, WOW! I love how you see spiritual truths everywhere God gives you the eyes to see. I admit – I've only seen the first Monsters movie, but now I'm going to have to see this one. Those are such great take-away ponderings! "Laboring is hard work. It takes time. Endurance." YES.
Love this, Jess:) Endurance doesn't come in one day. It's built over time and hard work. And sweat. Lotsa sweat…glad He's there with us:)
Love!! I liked this movie a lot and loved Mike's determination. But you're right…I didn't cheer him on so much when he wanted it because he thought he was awesome and deserved it. Once he was humbled, and worked his way up for the right reasons…well, then I cheered like crazy. Love the spiritual implications here.
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