We’ve been blogging for almost a year now (this August will be one year – anniversary details are TBA). Because of this, I feel like I can be a bit more vulnerable with the Reel Thinking community. Ever since I’ve become a father, I have become more emotional. I find myself getting misty-eyed in certain films and am surprised at some of the things that cause me to do so. However, I enjoy the renewed perspective I have on life and how my family has caused me to appreciate the life God has given us on this earth.
All of that to say, I cried in Finding Nemo. Ok, I said it. It wasn’t a hearty-cry that makes your nose run – just watery eyes. I’m convinced it is because of the fact that I’m a father. I had seen the movie before and wasn’t all that moved, but this time was different. This time my daughter, who was one at the time, was sitting in my lap.
At the end of the film, Nemo has just been reunited with Marlin (his father) and he’s about to head off to school. Nemo races off with his friends, but then races back to Marlin and, giving him a hug, he says, ‘I love you dad.’ Again, I had seen that before, but this time the scene got me. My daughter looked up at me and said, ‘What’s those tears?’ And I just told her it was sweet.
That scene not only warmed my heart because I was a father, but because of the contrasting attitude of Nemo. If you remember, Nemo was pretty rebellious. He hated his father, thought his father was a wimp, and felt that he was too overprotective. Therefore, he rebels against his father and is lost when some deep-sea photographers catch him.
But then I started to think about my emotions a bit more, and realized there was something more to this film. I realized that I’m Nemo. I’m the rebellious, unloving child who runs from his Father.
Although Marlin is flawed, he is a great picture of our Heavenly Father. Yes Nemo rebelled. Yes Nemo was hurtful and unloving, but Marlin’s love did not waver. Marlin pursued his rebellious child through shark-infested waters, came close to death, but did not stop loving his child. This is the God of the Bible.
We, like Nemo, run from Him, turn our backs on him, and hate him, but His love remains constant for his children. Romans 5:8 reminds us of this truth saying, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
This is why tears came to my eyes on that particular viewing. There is no doubt that I had these emotions, because I am a father and know what the love from your child feels like, but it was more than that. Yes it was a touching scene to watch, but the bigger Truth it illustrates is one that is worthy of weeping over. Why would God love us? Why would our Heavenly Father pursue rebellious children? Jesus Christ. He loves us, because of the righteous sacrifice of his Son. We have a great God whose love is bigger, much bigger, than our rebellion. Our God is a God who always finds his children, no matter how lost they are.
Reel Thinking 