Inspiration from a Favorite Movie and the Artemis II Space Launch

On our flight to Norway, I rewatched one of my favorite movies – Contact starting Jodi Foster.

This movie has such a deep spirituality side that many people miss. Not just in the obvious story but often hidden in some of the lines spoken by the characters. Here are a few of the inspirational ones that I have pondered and held deeply within my soul:

• Alien: You’re an interesting species. An interesting mix. You’re capable of such beautiful dreams, and such horrible nightmares. You feel so lost, so cut off, so alone, only you’re not. See, in all our searching, the only thing we’ve found that makes the emptiness bearable, is each other.

• Ellie: I’ll tell you one thing about the universe, though. The universe is a pretty big place. It’s bigger than anything anyone has ever dreamed of before. So if it’s just us… seems like an awful waste of space. Right?

• Panelist: Then why don’t you simply withdraw your testimony and concede that this “journey to the center of the galaxy,” in fact, never took place!
• Ellie: Because I can’t. I… had an experience… I can’t prove it, I can’t even explain it, but everything that I know as a human being, everything that I am tells me that it was real! I was given something wonderful, something that changed me forever… A vision… of the universe, that tells us, undeniably, how tiny, and insignificant and how… rare, and precious we all are! A vision that tells us that we belong to something that is greater than ourselves, that we are *not*, that none of us are alone! I wish… I… could share that… I wish, that everyone, if only for one… moment, could feel… that awe, and humility, and hope. But… That continues to be my wish.

The following movie quote seemed appropriate for Easter season and when I heard it again caused me to look up and capture these bits of wisdom from this movie. We will find life when we seek the One who gave his life for us.

• Ellie: For as long as I can remember, I’ve been searching for something, some reason why we’re here. What are we doing here? Who are we? If this is a chance to find out even just a little part of that answer… I don’t know, I think it’s worth a human life. Don’t you?

I heard the essence of that quote above repeated this past week when the Artemis II spaceship launched. As we waited nervously through the countdown, I keep thinking about the Columbia disaster and those lost lives. I watched an interview of one of the current astronauts who said in my paraphrase:

“Yes, this flight is risky. It takes courage and curiosity to go into space. But we are all part of something bigger than ourselves.”

The spiritual practice of zooming out and realizing that it is more than just me or even we is a valuable discipline. There is a power, in my faith walk I call God, beyond us, greater than us, loving and accepting us. An interconnectedness among us and to Something More. An awe of something vast luring, calling us closer. We look up and outward towards the heavens. A oneness that captures our hearts and gives us hope.

All these words do give me hope especially in this chaotic discouraging moment of history we are enduring. Knowing God is present with us and won’t abandon us provides light for our journey even when road is tough. And I am grateful for hearing words from all sorts of places likes movies and interviews that remind me how great the God of the Universe is.

What is giving you hope currently?