AVATAR

“Avatar” has become the most commercially successful movie ever. While millions marvel at its technological achievement, I particularly appreciate its plot of which multiple messages and analogies can be drawn and derived from.

The movie carries a clear environmental message. While some may consider the movie a knock on Imperialism, I see a lot of parallel in Christianity.
An avatar is a genetically engineered hybrid body of a human and a Navi, the indigenous being on the planet Pandora.  Director Cameron said, “Navii represent something that are our higher selves, the better beings that we would like to think we are.”
Strangely enough, whenever we step into a Christian milieu such as a church or a Christian gathering; we, consciously and subconsciously, conduct ourselves accordingly as if we have landed onto an ecclesiastic Pandora donning our individual Christian avatars.

In my younger and more cynical days I had a simplistic and one dimensional term for this complex phenomenon, I called it “Hypocrisy”. As I grow older, I have come to appreciate the complexity of human nature, and God’s perpetual Grace in transforming us into better beings even as we knowingly, or unknowingly, struggle to maintain some form of equilibrium between these “earthly” and “Christian” forms. As our yearning for spiritual fulfilment is growing stronger by the moment, we still frequently revert back to our customary way of handling things during trying times.
In N.T. Romans7:21-24, St. Paul put this phenomenon into perspective:
“...when I want to do what is good, what is evil is the only choice I have. My inner being delights at the law of God, but I see a different law at work in my body – a law that fights against the law which my mind approves of. It makes me a prisoner to the law of sin which is at work in my body. What an unhappy man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is taking me to death?” (Today’s English Version)
He answered his own question in the next sentence: “Thanks be to God, who does this through our Lord Jesus Christ!”
 
In the movie “Avatar”, as our hero Jake Sully (played by Sam Worthington) initially connected neurologically with his avatar, he was darting back and forth between his human and Navi forms. He had an ulterior motive when he began to cultivate his life on Pandora. He shaped and behaved like a Navi because of his avatar form, but he still carried an earthling perspective. He was overwhelmed by the knowledge gained but failed to digest properly, amazed at all the wonderments but unable to understand much.

Through trial and tribulation, Sam eventually transformed into a true Navi when he gave up his handicapped human form, but not before he let go of his earthling perspective to truly think and feel like a Navi. Consequently, he was connected, in body and in soul, with the spiritual force of Pandora.

How far are we into our development with our avatar in the Spiritual Pandora?
   
How much of a Christian we are in connecting with our Lord?

Raymond Li

Life little lessons – 13

Thinking about the meaning of  “CROSS” in Lent

“C”  Christ died for our sins on the cross.

“R”  Redeemed us by His blood.

“O”  Offered us “new life” to those believed in Him.

“S”  Set us apart as one of His own.

“S”  Sanctify us as we journey home.

                        Walter

Life little lessons – 12

Attitude affects everything we do.  Attitude can impact the organization we work, the church we serve, and the country we live in.  Our attitude can have positive or negative influence on people around us.  Positive attitude brightens people around you and brings forth joy and laughter.  Negative attitude promotes stress, sadness and hinders progress.  It also destroys relationship.  Right attitude changes people’s life, energizes workplace, strengthens family, builds up church, and opens our mind to God.  Wrong attitude leads to self pity and dampens our enjoyment of life.  Therefore, it is wise to maintain a positive attitude at all time.

                        Charles Swindoll, a famous preacher, shared his view on “attitude” as follows:

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company ... a church ... a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable.

The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude ... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you ... we are in charge of our Attitudes.”

In the “Sermon on the Mount”, also known as “Beatitude”, Jesus taught us the way to gain true happiness is to adopt a new attitude on life.

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
      for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
      for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
      for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
      for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
      for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
      for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

                                                                                                 Matthew 5:3-10

                       May we all adopt a positive attitude on life and let our life be a powerful witness for Christ.