Living Lessons From The Book of Eli

In a desolate chaotic world: know who you are and where you're going!

This isn't a movie review.  It's not even critical analysis of an apocalyptic film genre with really deep spiritual overtones.  This is about how a film can evoke striking thoughts and emotions that make you sense a supernatural voice speaking deeply in your soul.  If you are interested in the movie, you need to see it for yourself.  (It is rated R for graphic violent scenes)  The Book of Eli is about a world where an apocalytic (end-times) catastrophe destroys all sense of order and meaning to life.  To master survival in this nightmarish post-nuclear holocaust-world, persons violently search for answers to the hows and whys of living.  The main character (Eli- though not named in the movie) is the ideal.  He knows who he is and what his purpose in life is about.  This gives him an air of invincibility.  He cannot be hurt or injured... or even killed.  But he is deeply flawed and suffering.  He is alone... always the stranger.  He endures a discernable guilt when having to kill  people in  defense of his mission and values.  This contrasts him from the heartless unfeeling killers that roam the wastelands.  He is also getting by despite a physical limitation that is not obvious until the end of the movie (I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen the film).  I accidentally stumbled onto this movie on a late night of thinking and praying.  But I haven't stopped thinking and praying about it since.  (It's been two days now.)

I am currently in a significant crossroad in my life.  At the end of this month I am walking away from a life that I have lived and enjoyed for almost twenty years.  I have to let go of the visions and hopes for a life that I had always thought was my calling and purpose... my reason for living.  I am saying good-bye to a pastoral ministry that has been my life for the last twenty years.  This is the nuclear catastrophe that has devastated my world.  Now I have to redefine myself.  I am compelled to discover who I really am and what my purpose is in the face of this gut-wrenching life change.  I am looking at 2011 as one surveys an apocalyptic landscape wondering: what do I do now?  Who am I going to become?  I have to figure out my survival strategy in this scenario.  In "The Book of Eli" the main character survives the aftermath of the nuclear holocaust by clinging to every word from the only surviving sacred bible left in his world.  Interestingly, the scripture he reads is an echo of an inner voice in his heart that fuels him to get up everyday and move forward.  I can relate to that.  The only source for survival through my personal catastrophe is supernatural.  I cling to the words of the bible.  And it resonates with the voice of Jesus deep in my heart...connecting... consoling... leading. 

The main character in the movie gets a sense that his purpose in the midst of a chaotic world is to take the last surviving sacred bible west to an island sanctuary (Alcatraz).  He testifies to hearing the voice of God telling him that nothing would stop him or hurt him in this journey... and nothing did.  That was until he had to make a choice: surrender that last surviving sacred bible to his antagonist (the bad guy) for the life of an innocent person.  He gives up the sacred bible and takes a bullet to the heart.  I believed deeply that God had called me to this pastoral journey.  I had experiences through the years that gave me a sense of inevitability... this was my calling... this was my life.  That was until I had to make a choice:  surrender my sacred pastoral position for the innocence and purity of my supernatural calling.  I gave up my sacred position and took a bullet to the heart.   

Amazingly, the hero in "The Book of Eli" continues on his journey west without his precious sacred bible... inwardly convinced of his purpose and mission still.  But he staggers now... mortally wounded in the heart... needing the assistance of a friend.  He reaches the island sanctuary.  But he is not empty handed.  Down to his last breath he recites the entire bible as the sanctuary curator writes down his every word.  In the final act it turns out that the real treasure was not the leather relic of God's sacred word.  The last surviving sacred bible was the man himself.  I will move on.  I might stagger moving forward... mortally wounded in the heart... needing the assistance of loved ones and friends.  But I will get to where I am called to be.  And I will not be empty handed.  Down to my last breath I will release every word of Divine grace and anointing from the presence of the risen Jesus in my life.  In the final act it will turn out that the real supernatural value of my existence is not the pastoral position or title I hold.  The real supernatural value of my existince... the sacred word of God... the real biblical revelation that matters... is me.

"I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live... yet not I

but Christ lives in me"  (Galatians 2:20)