The Last Jedi was
filled with all things Star Wars except Hans Solo, though he was represented
through his son who had turned to the dark side. There were plenty of fighter
starships twists and turns, zooming through corridors, ascending and descending at
light speed, appearances of R2D2, 3CPO, Chewbacca and of course lots of light
saber fights, dramatic music that resonates from years past, a sprinkling of
odd creatures and plenty of opportunities for eye popping 3d. Yet being an original
Star Wars fan, it was a bitter sweet parting to Star Wars’, Princess Leah.
I was young when
Star Wars burst on the scene, well younger than I am today. Princess Leah was
young and beautiful, full of spunk and fire. In this last role, she is the
mature commander full of quiet wisdom and the wrinkles of age. Time took its
toll on actor Carrie Fischer as evidenced in this last film and her parting
from this world. It was a little heart wrenching to see her on the big screen
knowing that she no longer lives and breathes. New young talent occupied the
leading role, while Luke Skywalker, determined not to be part of the whole
redemption of the galaxy, isolated himself like a hermit, a lifestyle my
husband idolizes. Visited one more time by Yoda, the Last Jedi is once again
the hero of this tale of good verses evil on a galactic level.
The movie gave me
much to think about, maybe more than most considering my age. It certainly was
a reminder of how short our time is here on planet earth. It’s over in the
blink of a Jedi flash of light. What have I done with my life in the time span
from the first Star Wars to episode viii? I’ve raised a family of three
children, remained married, which is a major feat these days. I now have three grandchildren
and hope to pass on the legacy. I have seen the light and stepped into the
position of a true Jedi—fighting evil, at least that’s how I see it. I’ve taken
up a different sword—the Word of God.
It is sharper than
any sword and able to discern the intentions of the heart. It’s not meant to
destroy, but to bring conviction and life, eternal life. This sword cuts down
the enemies of injustice and poverty and challenges us to give of our lives,
money, time and talent. It tells us “If you spend yourself on the behalf of the
hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the
darkness and your night will become as noonday” (Isaiah 58:10). That’s the kind
of light saber I want to wield.
I want to live as
a Jedi who gives his/her life for what he/she believes in and for the greater
good. Not to spoil it for you, but you
probably know that Master Skywalker eventually gives himself to help the “last
of the rebellion” to survive against the Imperial forces. He has overtones of
Jesus Christ, giving his life as a ransom for many, though the religion of Star
Wars if far from Christian.
There is no god in
Star Wars, but The Force, a nonrepresentational energy that connects everyone
together. “May The Force be with you” is the maxim that they live by. There is
the light and dark side of The Force and tension and conflict exists between
the two, the forces of good vs. evil, a tale as old as time. These are elements
of spirituality, but nothing like a personal God who comes down from heaven to
save his people from the consequences of sin and death. Yet, in this episode
Luke’s final actions are much more Christ like that any other figure in Star
Wars. Why? Because this is what resonates with humanity. Giving your life for
another is the supreme act of heroism in our eyes. I think it accounts for a
good deal of the success of Star Wars. It certainly isn’t a new or original
theme, though the setting is SciFi, intergalactic, somewhat original, yet the
graphics are pushed more and more into another realm of near virtual reality.
However, I would
rather live in the virtuous reality than virtual reality. I, like most people,
have a conflict between the dark and light sides though I have given myself to
the light. I work as an art teacher in an impoverished community, and I try to
enrich the lives of those who are rejected by much of society, young children
living in the inner city. My colleagues and I are dedicated to educating them
as best we can. We are working to eliminate ignorance and discrimination. While
I am certainly no Jedi fighter on the level of Star Wars, there is an element
as in Lord of the Rings that we are not born conquerors of evil, but need to
train for it. We are just the everyday person, the “scum” as Star Wars points
out, no one special, but we are made to be special. We need to first recognize
that the forces of good and evil exist. They push and pull at us every day, and
we must decide to serve one master or the other, darkness (Satan) or light
(Jesus).
It is my intention
here to spark your thoughts, to get you thinking, so I will leave you with this
last thought, a quote from a Bob Dylan song, “You gotta serve somebody. It may
be the devil, or it may be the Lord, but you gotta serve somebody.” Who have
you chosen?
If you like what
you’ve read, please leave a comment and consider following me by subscribing to
my posts. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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