Today, May 4th, is celebrated by Star Wars fans across the globe.
“May the 4th be with you.”
Our family saw “The Last Jedi” in theaters, and the movie inspired these thoughts which I originally posted to Facebook on January 2nd.
It seemed appropriate to share them again today.
(Originally posted to Facebook on January 2, 2020.)
“Star Wars Spoiler Alert” are not words I ever expected to type. I watch and enjoy the movies, though not critically, so this is not one of “those” posts. But I am going to reference a couple of scenes from the newest Episode so I understand if you scroll ahead at light speed here.
Nostalgia is what draws me repeatedly to see Star Wars in theaters (and maybe my 10-year-old daughter who has an affinity for the Dark Side.) The words “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” stir something inside of me. Cue the music and the tilted type that sets the scene and I get downright blubbery. Knowing this, I should have carried Kleenex to watch The Rise of Skywalker. Those movie theater napkins are horribly thin.
Star Wars is the stuff of my childhood. I saw Return of the Jedi in theaters when it released in 1983, and still vividly recall Leia’s encounter with Wicket after she crashed her speeder bike. (“Look. It’s a hat. It’s not gonna hurt you.”)
Tonight, I watched my children as they watched their generation’s Jedi. I smiled to see C3PO and R2D2 again. I cheered Chewbacca and Lando. I practically applauded the glimpse of the Ewoks on Endor. These characters, I realized, are now part of my kids’ childhood, too.
But the most meaningful moment, and the one that inspired this writing, came from Rey. (Sidebar: we really like her name because, well, REYburn.) There is a moment toward the end of the movie when Rey calls to the Jedi who have gone before her.
“Be with me,” she says.
And then…
The voice of Luke Skywalker. Obi-Wan Kenobi. Yoda, and others. Rey hears them. I recognize them. They are the Jedi whose legacies Rey carries. They are the Jedi I have known.
In that moment and that movie theater, God reminded me that I, too, have voices to inspire me. They are not Jedi. They are saints.
Hebrews 12:1-2 says “Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus…”
I hear my daddy’s voice a lot. He used to say to me “Julie Doll, always keep a sweet spirit about you.” I also hear my PawPaw Carlisle telling me not to take anyone’s opinion, to discover things for myself. I hear Ms. Frenchie Benson at Bayview Baptist Church telling me God can use me in big ways. (She thought I’d be a teacher or a missionary.)
Luke Skywalker tells Rey “a thousand generations live in you now.” Hebrews 11 tells us of generations as well: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Moses, Gideon, Samson, David, Samuel. These believers looked forward with faith. I can add Dennis Echols, Lawrence Carlisle, Frenchie Benson and many, many more to my list.
Who is on yours?
Since I left the theater I have reflected on people who have spoken life to me. It’s why I am awake and typing this at 1:30 a.m. I am not a saint and I am not a scholar, but God is teaching me I have stories to tell. He has things to say through me. Maybe Ms. Frenchie was right.
I have not set a New Year’s Resolution but as I move through the next 12 months and beyond I want to immerse myself in my “great cloud of witnesses.” I want to remember those who have gone before me, and make time for those who are cheering me now. I want to surround my girls with saints who will point them to Jesus.
I need to go to sleep now. My little droids will wake me in a few hours.
May we keep our eyes on Jesus as Hebrews 12:2 instructs.
And may the Force be with us. Always.
“Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus…”
(Hebrews 12: 1-2)
