“The Force Be With You!”

Oh, it is so costly trying to be with somebody in their situation or need (to sit where they sit, to walk a mile in their moccasins, etc.).  It is particularly costly for a Granddad to try to be with his young grandchildren.  In order to be with my grandchildren, to share in that which brings excitement to their young lives  and dominates their thoughts and conversation, I went to see the Star War Movie yesterday.  When did going to the theater become so expensive?  I was flabbergasted—even after the Senior discount.  Why, I can remember when tickets were…  (oh, let it go, Grandad).   

Never have I sat in a more luxurious theater chair than that which I sat in yesterday—a leather-covered recliner with a swivel tray in front to place your popcorn and coke—if you can afford to purchase snacks after purchasing your ticket.  I appreciated the comfortable chair (without the snacks) because the movie (with all those upcoming previews and advertisements) was almost three hours in length.  How I stayed awake during the whole thing is amazing, especially when it was my afternoon nap time and that chair was so comfortable.  When I reserved our seats online I failed to notice that we would be seeing the 3-D version of the movie.  That experience was enough to knock my glasses off!  I believe I may have lost my hearing, too.  The volume was turned up to such a point where even a person with “hearing loss” thought everybody was shouting and yelling for all of those three hours!  Next time, I’m going to take some ear protection—but maybe I won’t need the protection now that I’m deaf.  It sure is costly trying to be with somebody where they are!

I saw the first Star Wars movie in 1977 when I was 44 years-old.  Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) was then a youthful hero  who destroyed the Death Star and became a Jedi knight. In the Star Wars Movie of yesterday (I am now 74) Luke Skywalker is an old man who has seen his day!  That wasn’t at all helpful to my self image!

Even so, the old Star Wars theology comes through—“The Force Be With You.”  I wonder if my grandchildren pick up on that theology?  Do they hear “Why fight for hate when you can fight for love?”  Do they understand the on-going battle between Light and Darkness—"The First Order and the Resistance"?  Did they hear what Yoda said to Luke Skywalker about how failure and weakness is a necessary strength in the search for the fulfillment of humanity?  I did!

Monument Valley, Utah