Deb and I watched Disney’s Earth last night on the big screen (i.e., downstairs). We wanted to see it in the theater, but for some reason, didn’t. Nevertheless, this was the kind of film for which I built a home theater. Majestic, and filled with grandeur, it covers all seven continents, displaying the struggles and beauty of nature.
I’m sure this wasn’t the filmmakers’ intentions, but we couldn’t help but be awestruck at how the whole planet–every creature, plant and rock–shouts out “I was made!” And made well, for our enjoyment and stewardship.
The stars of the show are the animals. Polar bears, humpback whales, penguins, cheetahs and various birds are all shown doing what they have been doing for thousands of years: struggling to survive (not always successfully), swimming, jumping, courting and, at times, playing. There were some scenes that were hilarious, and some that were heart-wrenching.
Through most of my Christian walk, I’ve tried to remove myself from the natural world. It seemed dirty and un-spiritual. I believed that God would re-do everything anyway, so why bother? In the past year, I’ve reversed that view. God made us to be apart of creation. Ruling it, yes, but still apart of it. By gaining an appreciation of it, I hope to better anticipate the New Earth to come.
For instance, highlighted several times last night was the act of hunting. Predators stalked, chased and killed. (Note to parents: No bloodshed was shown. It’s a very kid-friendly film in that regard. The one time an animal was shown eating another animal was when a great white shark was shown swallowing a seal whole, in slow motion.) This is just the way this world is. However, that’s not how it’s going to be. In Isaiah, while describing the New Earth, the Lord says “‘The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox…They will neither harm nor destroy all on my holy mountain,’ says the Lord“. It sounds ridiculous, because it is so different from what we’re living with now. Yet, the idea that all of creation will be able to stop struggling is a comforting one. I can’t help but think of the Warner Brothers cartoons with Sam and Ralph, the coyote and sheepdog. During the workday, they would be mortal enemies. As soon as the whistle blew announcing the end of the workday, they could walk off and enjoy their real life together, living in peace.
All the beauty that we witnessed last night, ultimately is just a temporary resting point on the path to our true home. We watched a documentary about the majesty and grandeur of a hotel room.
The other thought that came to mind was: Cosmic accident, my eye.
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