Tuesday, May 08, 2012
LOST and found
GREAT SCOTT!
It has been a long time since my last blog post here. I believe it is safe to say that my life has COMPLETELY changed since Swine Flu was the story of the day. I've had 3 different jobs since the post and somewhere in there I found the time to get married.
So obviously my blog is a little behind the times. Today I wanted to share with you thoughts about something that happened nearly two years ago to the day. The Series finale of LOST. Season 6 episode 17 titled simply "The End."
SPOILERS FROM THIS POINT ON.
If you haven't yet watched LOST of parts of LOST I advise you to read no further. But then again that implies that someone is actually reading this. I mentioned already that I recently got married. Before I got married I had already seen LOST in it's original run on ABC. I then had the opportunity to re-watch the series on Netflix by myself earlier last year. But then I went and got married. On the flight to Hawaii (where they filmed LOST) I thought it would be a good idea to expose my wife to the first episode. Not such a great idea watching a show about a plane crash while on a plane over the Pacific Ocean. We didn't finish the episode but she was intrigued. We waited til we got back to Wisconsin and Kayln was officially hooked on LOST. We have been watching the entire series ever since Mid-January. Well last night we finished it. And boy oh boy. Let me just say this. 2 years later and I still find great joy in the last episode of LOST.
I know it was a confusing show, a mysterious show. But the last episode really was awesome. Some people didn't like it, some people felt they left too many questions unanswered. I didn't. I loved it. I believe it brings a wonderful expression of faith, hope, and charity to a world that sorely lacks all three.
The line that struck me the most last night was when Christian Shepherd was revealing to Jack that they were all dead and in this Limbo/Purgaotry type place that they created so that they could all be together before they moved on was the following. He said, "The time you spent together was the most important part of your life." Notice he did NOT say "The time you spent ON THE ISLAND was the most important." In the end, the finale and really the journey of LOST has nothing to do with the Island other than the show took place there. What is important are the relationships and the challenges that this community of survivors faced together. And yes that happened to take place on The Island. But the island is simply means to the end. The island is really the vocation of the survivors. It does not define them but it is the vehicle that gives theme their best shot at redemption and salvation. Ultimately their lives are more fulfilling because of the time they spent on the island answering Jacob's (God's)call to protect the island.
I believe this episode demonstrates what life as a Christian is really about. Yes the creators leave open the possibility that everyone's religion is truth. And I am okay with that. LOST was not a Christian or Catholic show. I believe there were a lot of Catholic undertones but much like early Christians adopted Christmas and made it their own I am adopting LOST and making it my own. I don't know how many of you ever stop and consider the idea of eternity.
Yes we are all good Christians and should look forward to heaven with hope. But sometimes for me that idea of the unknown and never ending eternity scares the heaven out of me! Whenever I think about it I think of it from a perspective of being alone with this bright light (the heart of the island perhaps). If that is heaven then I am right to be afraid because that would suck more than Aaron Morey trying out for the lead in Black Swan.
But LOST opened my eyes and remind me that we will not be alone. First of all in heaven we will be eternally united with God. Which will be AWESOME! Secondly, I will not be the only one there. We will be united as a communion of saints. So presumably the people that I have spent the most important parts of my life with will be with me in heaven. I don't want to get into a Theological discussion of am I going to heaven or purgatory or even hell. That's not the point. The point is that as Christians we should be looking forward to the end or to what is next. While simultaneously living the moment to the fullest. Ultimately I believe that is what LOST is about.
If you re-watch the series and especially season 6 you can keep in mind that yes all these characters in fact do die at some point as we all do. You can look forward with joyful anticipation because you know the outcome. But that doesn't change the enjoyment one can get out of all 6 seasons. There is much to be learned. Just like in life. LOST is a journey. Life is a Journey. LOST may have perhaps left some questions unanswered. Life is full of unanswered questions. Last year Fr. John and I tried to convince my Sophomores and Seniors to embrace the mystery. They didn't like that answer because somewhere along the line we decided we needed to know everything and if we didn't we would be unhappy about it. I have come to peace by convincing myself anything I don't know now I will figure out when I get to what comes next.
I think LOST is interesting because they didn't answer some questions but it doesn't matter. I think when we get to what is next we will be so happy to be together with Christ and our loved ones, it won't matter.
Another aspect goes back to the vocation of those on the island. Jacob brought them to the island that they may prevent the light from going out. Light imagery is always awesome. That is the same job of all baptized believers. Through our baptism we receive the universal call to holiness. We join in the Apostolic mission of the Church to go to the ends of the earth to preach the Good news. Christ is the light of the world. We can't see Him (much like not everyone could see the light at the center of the island). But it is our job to keep the light of Christ in the world. The Oceanic Survivors could not see the Light of the Island til the last episode. But they saw the affects of it throughout the series. (Mysterious healing etc...)The world should look at all baptized believers and see the effect of the Light of Christ in the joy and way that we live our lives.
I believe this is enough for now. LOST in the end is merely a television show. I believe it is one of the better shows that have been on TV. As Sister Marie Kolbe says it is like literature or philosophy in action. So this is my take on it after 2 years of it being over and watching the series 3 times.
Ladies and gentlemen take my advice, live each moment to the fullest, make sure to protect the light that you received at baptism. I hope I get to be with you all when its time to leave.
It has been a long time since my last blog post here. I believe it is safe to say that my life has COMPLETELY changed since Swine Flu was the story of the day. I've had 3 different jobs since the post and somewhere in there I found the time to get married.
So obviously my blog is a little behind the times. Today I wanted to share with you thoughts about something that happened nearly two years ago to the day. The Series finale of LOST. Season 6 episode 17 titled simply "The End."
If you haven't yet watched LOST of parts of LOST I advise you to read no further. But then again that implies that someone is actually reading this. I mentioned already that I recently got married. Before I got married I had already seen LOST in it's original run on ABC. I then had the opportunity to re-watch the series on Netflix by myself earlier last year. But then I went and got married. On the flight to Hawaii (where they filmed LOST) I thought it would be a good idea to expose my wife to the first episode. Not such a great idea watching a show about a plane crash while on a plane over the Pacific Ocean. We didn't finish the episode but she was intrigued. We waited til we got back to Wisconsin and Kayln was officially hooked on LOST. We have been watching the entire series ever since Mid-January. Well last night we finished it. And boy oh boy. Let me just say this. 2 years later and I still find great joy in the last episode of LOST.
I know it was a confusing show, a mysterious show. But the last episode really was awesome. Some people didn't like it, some people felt they left too many questions unanswered. I didn't. I loved it. I believe it brings a wonderful expression of faith, hope, and charity to a world that sorely lacks all three.
The line that struck me the most last night was when Christian Shepherd was revealing to Jack that they were all dead and in this Limbo/Purgaotry type place that they created so that they could all be together before they moved on was the following. He said, "The time you spent together was the most important part of your life." Notice he did NOT say "The time you spent ON THE ISLAND was the most important." In the end, the finale and really the journey of LOST has nothing to do with the Island other than the show took place there. What is important are the relationships and the challenges that this community of survivors faced together. And yes that happened to take place on The Island. But the island is simply means to the end. The island is really the vocation of the survivors. It does not define them but it is the vehicle that gives theme their best shot at redemption and salvation. Ultimately their lives are more fulfilling because of the time they spent on the island answering Jacob's (God's)call to protect the island.
I believe this episode demonstrates what life as a Christian is really about. Yes the creators leave open the possibility that everyone's religion is truth. And I am okay with that. LOST was not a Christian or Catholic show. I believe there were a lot of Catholic undertones but much like early Christians adopted Christmas and made it their own I am adopting LOST and making it my own. I don't know how many of you ever stop and consider the idea of eternity.
Yes we are all good Christians and should look forward to heaven with hope. But sometimes for me that idea of the unknown and never ending eternity scares the heaven out of me! Whenever I think about it I think of it from a perspective of being alone with this bright light (the heart of the island perhaps). If that is heaven then I am right to be afraid because that would suck more than Aaron Morey trying out for the lead in Black Swan.
But LOST opened my eyes and remind me that we will not be alone. First of all in heaven we will be eternally united with God. Which will be AWESOME! Secondly, I will not be the only one there. We will be united as a communion of saints. So presumably the people that I have spent the most important parts of my life with will be with me in heaven. I don't want to get into a Theological discussion of am I going to heaven or purgatory or even hell. That's not the point. The point is that as Christians we should be looking forward to the end or to what is next. While simultaneously living the moment to the fullest. Ultimately I believe that is what LOST is about.
If you re-watch the series and especially season 6 you can keep in mind that yes all these characters in fact do die at some point as we all do. You can look forward with joyful anticipation because you know the outcome. But that doesn't change the enjoyment one can get out of all 6 seasons. There is much to be learned. Just like in life. LOST is a journey. Life is a Journey. LOST may have perhaps left some questions unanswered. Life is full of unanswered questions. Last year Fr. John and I tried to convince my Sophomores and Seniors to embrace the mystery. They didn't like that answer because somewhere along the line we decided we needed to know everything and if we didn't we would be unhappy about it. I have come to peace by convincing myself anything I don't know now I will figure out when I get to what comes next.
I think LOST is interesting because they didn't answer some questions but it doesn't matter. I think when we get to what is next we will be so happy to be together with Christ and our loved ones, it won't matter.
Another aspect goes back to the vocation of those on the island. Jacob brought them to the island that they may prevent the light from going out. Light imagery is always awesome. That is the same job of all baptized believers. Through our baptism we receive the universal call to holiness. We join in the Apostolic mission of the Church to go to the ends of the earth to preach the Good news. Christ is the light of the world. We can't see Him (much like not everyone could see the light at the center of the island). But it is our job to keep the light of Christ in the world. The Oceanic Survivors could not see the Light of the Island til the last episode. But they saw the affects of it throughout the series. (Mysterious healing etc...)The world should look at all baptized believers and see the effect of the Light of Christ in the joy and way that we live our lives.
I believe this is enough for now. LOST in the end is merely a television show. I believe it is one of the better shows that have been on TV. As Sister Marie Kolbe says it is like literature or philosophy in action. So this is my take on it after 2 years of it being over and watching the series 3 times.
Ladies and gentlemen take my advice, live each moment to the fullest, make sure to protect the light that you received at baptism. I hope I get to be with you all when its time to leave.
# posted by The REAL Tommy @ 8:36 AM 
