How to Practice Holy Wonder with a Movie (or a Book)
1. Let Go: It is important, especially in fiction, to let go of orderly logic and expectations about what is good and bad or real and not real. For example, I have never met a vampire nor have I traveled at light speed. Yet I have encountered parasitic people who looked nice enough at the start, and there have been moments when time seemed to move faster or slower. Beginning in ‘suspension of disbelief’ (and judgment) is a very good place to start.
2. Look for Clues: Even before you watch, these clues can be in the trailers and/or reviews. Are there objects and settings and happenings that can strongly suggest spiritual depth? Water, Desert (outer space is typically desert-like in fiction), Journeys, Treasure, Community/Isolation, Feasts, Prisons, Outcasts, Gardens, Mission, Healing, Sacrifice, and/or Liberation. There are stories with these elements that are not doing anything particularly deep; but all of those have obvious connections to Scripture and tradition (saints stories, history, hymnody).
3. Contemplate: The questions of contemplative Bible study methods like Lectio Divinia are simple and helpful. What scene leaps out at you? What is the film trying to say? How do you act/live responding to the film? In Godly Play, we offer these questions as: what is your favorite part? What is the most important part, and where would you be in this story? This method isn’t trying to equate an analogy, it is a type of wonder and pondering in the presence of the Spirit.
4. Sort and Sift: Another approach is a five-question examination. This helps us sift through the actions and virtues (and vices) of a film. There are five theological questions that can lead the way:
- What is the world like/ the setting (creation) ? Is it a crisis, bliss, estrangement, calm?
- What goes/has already gone wrong (sin) ? Violence, heartbreak, betrayal, destruction, immorality?
- What brings us up short (confession/sacrifice) ? Suddenly a character realizes the distance between thriving and not right and wrong, etc.
- What sparks/brings change (reconciliation) ? Is there an attempt to move toward ending the destructive and beginning the lifegiving duty?
- What brings harmony, purpose, moving ahead (redemption)?
5. Connect the Story: Sometimes the connections are obvious and intentional, other times they are a creative movement of the Spirit. So, are there bits and pieces that are similar to another story – either biblical or historical?
6. End in prayer: Perhaps the reflection has reminded you of an established prayer. Or could you try a ‘God-libs’ approach? Considering what you have experienced and thought about fill in the [ ] with what comes to your heart.
Living God you are [adjectives and verbs]
We ask that you [ ]
so that we might [ ]
in your [adjective again] Name we pray. Amen.
Links to more in-depth wondering about movies viewed for 2023 Adult Formation:
January,