The animation creators of Disney's Pixar 2009 movie Up keep our eyes on the sky for most of the film with airships, balloons, and industrial cranes. Even when characters have two feet on the ground, their eyes look upward with games like cloud gazing and befriending a 13-foot-tall bird named Kevin. While watching this movie, we must ponder whether our days would be different if we looked up more often.
The film's creators hope grandparents would take their grandkids to watch the movie and thereby reconnect with each other. Up's director, Pete Doctor, once said, "The meaningful adventure in life is the relationships we share with each other."
Local musician Justina Hodgson's first job was playing her violin in the orchestra for the film's score. Justina met the composer Michael Giacchino and learned that he and his wife lost a child. Some fifteen years later, Justina and her husband Micheal have experienced the same loss three times. The film continues today to make an impact on her life.
The movie Up began in a 1930s movie theater. The first character viewers met was the rich, clever, handsome explorer Charles F. Muntz. They learned about his travels around the globe in his self-designed airship, the “Spirit of Adventure.” Two of his biggest fans were young Carl and Ellie, who used their imaginations to explore the sky from an abandoned house in the neighborhood.
If we take the phrase "spirit of adventure" and hoover it over the words in Isaiah 43, we find a weary people and a prophet. Isaiah had grown tired of constantly reminding the Israelites to return to God, and the Israelites had grown tired of being in exile for 70 years.
The Israelites had lost everything: their land, their homes, their families, and to some extent, they felt they had failed God as well. The Israelites’ lack of trust in God led them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years, and their disobedience kept them exiled in Babylon for 70 years. The Israelites were far from living out the adventure God had intended for them in the promised land.
It was difficult to dream during exile because more energy was spent on surviving the day than hoping for a better tomorrow. The Israelites knew about difficult times. They had walked through waters, rivers and fires without being washed away or burned. Isaiah assured them that despite their lack of trust and disobedience, they remained precious and honored in God's sight. The prophet offered them a light of hope when he said, "I am about to do a new thing." (Isaiah 43:19b, New Revised Standard Version)
Although we might prefer a problem-free life, for most of us, this is not our reality. In life, among the good and hard days, we must acknowledge God's abiding presence and look with hope for the new things God is doing.
Movies like Up help us step into another story with our imaginations. We can wonder what it would be like to fly our house over Waynesboro or own a dog who speaks our language.
Also, movies like Up help us wonder what it would be like to meet a special friend who helps us through tough times, like Mr. Fredricksen or Russell the Wilderness Explorer.
Sometimes, we might feel like Carl, the grief-stricken balloon salesman. In the story, Carl desires to be alone and leave behind difficulties; however, new friends keep showing up despite his best efforts. New friends of all shapes and sizes formed a community of healing support. We are grateful for the community and our loving God, who draws near to us in both the good and the hard times of life.
Recently, we hosted a special event for a Title 1 school. Zeus Digital Theater’s lobby hummed with excitement as 300 students, teachers, and guests arrived for a special showing of the movie Up. With popcorn in one hand and juice in the other, students dressed in pajamas hurried to their seats with a smile.
Before the movie, Justina shared about her first job as a violinist in the orchestra of the movie Up and we heard her play a song from the film’s score! Also, we had fun playing a trivia game with Principal Arey, Ms. Perry, students, and special guests.
During the movie, I sat in the center of the theater between two students. As the clouds parted and Paradise Falls appeared on the screen, one young man exclaimed, “Niagara Falls!”
I leaned over and softly said, “Actually, that is Paradise Falls.”
He asked, “Is that a real place?”
I said, “Well, yes. The animators based the falls on a real place in Venezuela.”
(Later, I remembered the place was called Angel Falls.)
His friend asked me, “How do you know all this stuff?”
I said with a grin, “I’ve read a lot about this cool movie Up.”
A similar event will be held on Sunday, September 8, 2024. If you live near Waynesboro, Virginia, join us for a celebration of Grandparents’ Day and Disney Pixar's 15th anniversary of the movie Up.
Enjoy the special viewing of the movie Up with free admission, popcorn, and drinks from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at The Wayne Theatre. Attendees will meet violinist Justina Hodgson and hear about her first job as a musician in the orchestra for the movie Up. Grandparents and grandchildren will engage in an Up trivia game and faith reflection. We invite you to join us this Sunday.
In our daily adventures, may we draw close to God and community through the ups and downs of life.
Serve and Love Well,
Rev. April H. Cranford
The Grandparents’ Day Celebration is sponsored by the following Waynesboro churches: First Baptist, Grace Evangelical Lutheran, St. John's Episcopal and Westminster Presbyterian. For more information, call (540) 942-1145 or visit www.waynetheatre.org.
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