I have to throw out a BIG thank you to those of you who read this blog. The last two to three weeks have been crazy busy for me and I’ve contributed very little. Instead, I’ve been asking of you for ideas and help and your feedback has been wonderful. I’m about 60% through writing/prepping nine talks I’m giving next week at camp. I need help with an illustration.
Here’s the setup. I’m talking about selfishness with the bottom line being: Live my life unselfishly. The scripture is from Luke 12, the parable of the farmer who built bigger barns. In my second talk that day, I’m honing in on what Jesus said before he told the Parable, “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” I’m choosing to illustrate the point that we are spiritual beings living in a physical world and more often than not, we get caught up in gratifying ourselves with the physical things in this world. However, if we truly recognize that we’re being duped, that this life is short and the richness of our eternity will be measured by how generous we are in this temporal life. I want to point the kids toward seeing what real life is. Real life is eternal, not abundance of possessions.
So, how do I illustrate this. What I’m looking for is a movie clip where a character realizes that what he/she has always known isn’t reality. The absolute best illustration that comes to mind is the Matrix where humanity thinks it is experiencing reality, but it’s not true at all. However, I don’t love the idea of showing clips from the Matrix to 3rd-5th graders, even though most of them have probably seen it already.
Do you know of any other movies that illustrate this shift, where a character sees what reality is for the first time?
How about the scene in the first Toy Story where Buzz realizes he is just a toy as he watches the commercial advertising other Buzz Lightyears. This could play off of the hype of TS3 coming soon as well.
Jared, That is a FABULOUS IDEA!!!!! Although no one asked my opinion – I’m giving it anyway! I was so hopeful I could come up with something – but I think you hit it!
The scene from AstroBoy when he realizes that he’s not a real boy.
what about Horton Hears a Who, Horton realizes there is a whole other world of people on a speck of dust. He unselfishly through persecution protects them.
i love Dr. Seuss!
I thought of Bolt – when he realizes that his super powers aren’t real and reality hits him pretty hard
The Truman Show may work as well, though there’s a lot more setup in that one. I like the Toy Story idea if you can get (need) appropriate permission to use a clip.
“YOU … ARE … A … TOY!!!”
Isn’t there a scene in Field of Dreams where Ray’s brother-in-law finally sees the baseball players? After not being able to see them for most of the movie? Might take too much set up though to explain….I like the Horton Hears a Who suggestion.
Great ideas everyone… Funny thing though, inspiration hit me and I’ve gone in a totally different direction. 🙂 however, I like where this was going, I think u can use it for something else later!