There are many times when I watch a movie and something jumps out at me as being a great reflection of God's story in us. The obvious example is The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. Aslan is Jesus, Edmund is us. Aslan sacrifices himself for Edmund, even though he has never done wrong. He comes back to life. He defeats the White Witch, and he sets up the children as kings and queens. Bam. The Gospel in a nutshell.
But I like looking for that story where it isn't obvious, and isn't intended. I love admiring how many times humans unintentionally create a story that somehow starts to look like God's. And not just the story of Jesus' sacrifice, but stories of our walk with Him.
One such story is found in Pixar's Ratatouille
A few months ago, I was learning how to completely rely on God day in and day out. Always following his direction, and not doing a thing unless he told me to. I was thinking about how it worked, and trying to find a way to explain it to my non-Christian friends at school. They all credit me for being super smart, and think I'm getting good grades because I'm a good student. However, I long to tell them the real story. It's not me. None of it is. But how could I explain that to people who weren't experiencing it? Then the movie Ratatouille dropped in my head.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratatouille_(film))In Ratatouille, the main human is Linguini, an average guy who needs a job. He comes across a rat who can cook, and together they find out that when the rat pulls on Linguini's hair, he can control his actions.
It takes some practice to get a system down. They practice with Linguini's eyes covered so he can learn to trust the rat's actions
(http://aireesespieces.blogspot.com/2010/10/me-myself-and-my-kitchenette.html)Eventually, Linguini's only job is to "appear human." The rat does the rest.
It's the same with my life. I only go through the motions God has initiated in me. I study what and when he tells me to. When I take tests, he brings things to my mind, sometimes that I've forgotten.
As Linguini puts it "You've been giving me credit for his gift!"
(http://basementrejects.com/review/ratatouille-2007/)I'm no cook. I mean that figuratively (although it's true literally as well). When I say that I'm no cook, I'm saying that without God, nothing I have accomplished would be possible.
Now, back to the problem of how to explain that to my friends. I now know a good way to explain what happens in my head, but I still have to come out and say it. I haven't done that yet, and I know the time is coming when I should. After this coming semester, I may never see these people again.
In Ratatouille, Linguini has to admit that he's not a cook to all the other staff members in his kitchen. He confesses everything. But then, one by one, they all desert him (or, since they're cooks, maybe they "dessert" him :D).
(http://imgbuddy.com/larousse-ratatouille.asp)That is what I'm afraid of. That's what's holding me back from speaking out. I don't want to be rejected. Who does? But I guess it's time for me to look farther into the movie. After the humans desert Linguini, the rat's family comes to save the day.
(http://www.movieroomreviews.com/ratatouille/photo/ratatouille-movie-pictures-4)I need to remember that God will come through for me even if nobody else does. He can accomplish the impossible. He can do things that are even more amazing than having a family of rats successfully (and cleanly) run a restaurant. I need to rely on him and his friendship, and not be afraid of being rejected. God has given me so many incredible gifts: a great program, great teachers, great fellow students, and a mind to understand how beautiful and amazing his creation is. He has accepted me into his family. He has never let me down, and he never will. So I need to trust in his plan, follow his lead, and let him do all the cooking!
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| http://www.rotoscopers.com/2015/06/12/pixar-rewind-ratatouille/ |
