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The
Blessings Of Buckaroo Banzai!
Have you ever stopped to think about how
blessed you are? I mean really stopped.
To think. About right now. And listen to the still small voice of the One Who
loves you more than you can know? Or are you stuck in high gear, zipping along
struggling to understand the "big picture" while the blessings in the details
blur by your peripheral awareness?
Among my favorite movies is a quirky, campy
sci-fi comedy called "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai: Across the 8th
Dimension." Made in 1984, the movie’s stars include such notables as Peter
Weller, John Lithgow, Jeff Goldblum, Ellen Barkin, Robert Ito, and Christopher
Lloyd. It sports such characters as Black Lectoids, Bubba, Penny Priddy, General
Catburd, Perfect Tommy, and Dr. Emilio Lizardo.
In the opening scene, Buckaroo transitions from
completing brain surgery to test-driving a jet car in the desert--and driving it
through a mountain! It’s a hoot of a movie.
While watching Buckaroo Banzai with some
friends some time ago, I also watched how they struggled to determine the plot
of the movie. There is a plot, but it’s not readily discernible. Nor is it
necessarily the point of the movie. What’s fun and interesting are the moments,
what’s happening now, the events--as well as the quirkiness of the characters.
The plot, for me, is virtually irrelevant.
So, my friends struggled, asking repeatedly,
"What’s going on? What’s the point? What’s the plot?" and missed most of the fun
of the movie. But I just relaxed and enjoyed the moments, one at a time, as they
occurred, noticing the details in the scenery, the stray puns in the dialog, and
the visual antics of the characters. I love this movie! And once it’s over, with
a little reflection, the plot emerges and a fuller appreciation of the movie is
gained.
So it is with our lives. We’re always looking
for the plot. We want to know and understand all that’s going to happen, not
just today, but tomorrow, and the day after, and next week. We want the full
five-year-to-eternity plan. As a result, we miss the moments. We miss the
enjoyment of the now. We miss the Lord speaking to us in the living of our day.
Day after day after day.
Planning the things we need to do and
anticipating the possibilities of tomorrow can be a good thing. But not if these
activities become our sole focus. The Lord told us to not worry about things,
but to always seek His kingdom first.
How often do we really do that? Don’t we rather
do to-dos, try to get our lives in order, fret over stuff, sweat the tiniest
details before finally coming into His presence for a five minute devotional?
And all the time we’re devoting, our minds are actually scattered amok over the
other things we feel are still left undone?
This isn’t exactly what the Lord had in mind.
How much better to just rest in Him throughout each day, not being caught up and
driven by trying to plan or understand or figure out the full "plot" of our
lives. But rather enjoying each moment. Savoring the details of the now He has
provided. Paying attention to the Holy Spirit who is ever-present with us,
ever-speaking to us. Leading. Guiding. Directing. Moment-by-precious-moment.
What’s He whispering to your heart in this very
moment? Did you hear it? Tomorrow comes, planned or un-planned. Readiness is
about being prepared to receive the full benefit of the now now. Life isn’t a
dress rehearsal. We aren’t practicing now to get it right later for a second run
when we’re finally on stage and the curtain goes up. The curtain went up and the
play started at birth. Consider this:
"Watch out!" Jesus told us. "Guard your desires
against all kinds of greed; a person’s life is not defined by an abundance of
things. Here, listen to this story: The business of a certain rich man was very
successful. He thought, I have so much! What will I do with it all? Then he
decided, I know! I’ll tear down my old house and offices, and build several
bigger ones, and there I’ll store all the stuff I have now and buy even more
things! And I’ll say to myself, Self, you’re secure! You’ve got more stuff than
anyone! Take life easy; eat, drink and be content." But God said to him,
Foolish, Yuppie! Tonight, your life will be taken from you. Then who will get
what you have prepared for yourself? This is how it will be with anyone who
stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
Jesus said, "Pay attention! I’m telling you
something really important! Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat, or
what you will wear. Life is much more than food and stuff and clothes. Just look
at the birds all around you! They don’t go to the grocery store, they don’t have
jobs, they don’t need credit cards! God feeds them. Don’t you realize how much
more valuable you are to God than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single
second to his or her life? Since you can’t do this simple little thing, why do
you worry at all? Worry itself devours hours!"
Finally, Jesus told us, "Think about how the
lilies grow. They don’t commute or earn a living. Yet, not even Solomon with all
his wealth was able to dress himself with splendor equal to a lily. If this is
how God clothes flowers and grass which are here today and tomorrow mowed and
mulched, how much more splendidly will he clothe you, and care for you, and
provide for all your needs! Where’s your faith! Don’t set your heart on food;
don’t worry about stuff. The world runs breathlessly after these things. Your
Father knows you need them. You, instead, first and foremost seek My kingdom and
then all these things and more, as you need them, will be given to you. Don’t
fret over the plot of your life. Enjoy the moments I give you. Don’t be afraid,
little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the entire kingdom.
What more do you need!"*
What more, indeed.
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*Adapted from Matthew. |
