Those of you who know me well likely know my favorite movie of all time is Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi and it follows that the Star Wars saga is also my favorite movie series [perhaps excluding the dreadful Episode I: The Phantom Menace and its doofus character Jar Jar Binks]. I, and perhaps you do as well, find it hard not to be intrigued by the not so subtle spirituality of the series. I mean, who would not like to be able to tap into the mystical power that is The Force?
Many might be surprised to learn, however, that at its core Star Wars reflects the Hindu worldview of its creator George Lucas. And while God has been declining in popularity over the past thirty years in the west, the same cannot be said for The Force which remains at the top of the polls. Our attraction to The Force is just more evidence that our souls long for God. At our core we know that something is missing, that there is more to us than just flesh and bone.
The challenge is deciding which side of The Force we will choose -- the good side or the dark side. So far so good, right? Of course, we are going to choose the Jedi way. Who would even want to be a Sith anyway? Well, except perhaps for the cool masks they get to wear. But I digress.
But as the story unwraps in Episodes II & III: The Clone Wars and the Revenge of the Sith, we find ourselves torn by Anakin's dilemma. These films relate the transformation of young Anakin, a budding Jedi, into the infamous Darth Vader. How can such an awful thing happen to a young Jedi-in-training, especially one with such great promise?
The way of the Jedi is a life of honor but it is also a life of detachment. He must give up his right to love, to feel and even to be loved. He must learn to live a life absent of desire. This is the way of the Jedi. This is what it means to choose the good.
The way of the Sith is the only other option presented. There is darkness there, and this is where one's passions will lead him if he is unable to vanquish or relinquish them. Anakin, of course, has a dilemma. He was in love with young Queen Amidala, which presented quite a problem. Granted, he had a lot of other problems too. But fundamentally this was the choice before him -- either to live a life of detachment or to live a life of passion. What a very difficult position to put such a young man in! How many of us would have chosen differently?
The history of mankind shows just how our passions have left an endless trail of devastation. Left to ourselves, it seems, desire will only lead us to the dark side. It is easy to see how compelling this view can be, but may I suggest that Jesus offers us another way. Let Him change us at our cores and then let our passions fuel our lives.
Spirituality and desire are not in conflict from Jesus' perspective. In fact, He teaches that a genuine spirituality results in the passionate pursuit of this life. I believe that many have given up on such a pursuit of spirituality precisely because they didn't know what to do with their desires and passions [the Hindu/Jedi way of just vanquishing or relinquishing them seemed either impossible or impractical]. No one ever told them that they were placed there by God, and that they were intended to be the fuel that would drive them to pursue their dreams and visions.
At the same time, we must heed the warning of the Sith: that unrestrained passions, passions lacking a moral compass, will lead us to lives that are self-destructive and that hurt anyone who chooses to come near us or go with us. Our greatest danger is in living for whatever we can take and devour now thus destroying our futures in the process.
Our souls do, in fact, crave for more. It is not, however, because they are insatiable, but because we know there is more to be had.
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