A Quest of Purpose

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace…”
2 Timothy 1:9

A generous gift of a movie gift card, had allowed my husband and I to see three wonderful movies: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Into the Woods and a special screening of The Wizard of Oz. As we left the theater following the last movie, my husband wondered out loud about how “I might use The Wizard of Oz for a devotion?” I gently reminded him that I had already used that movie as the inspiration for a number of devotions. However, his wondering did get me thinking - was there something common to all three of these movies that we can learn from? The answer is yes of course. In each of these movies, the characters go on a quest of purpose and learn some important lessons along the way. 

Bilbo Baggins and company set out restore a kingdom and learn about trust, loyalty, greed and darkness. They also learn, I believe about a greater, nobler strength that is bestowed by a power of good and light that comes from without and fills them within, especially in times of trial. 

In Into the Woods, all of the characters set out on different quests - to break a curse, to get the prince, to visit granny, to get some money. They learned that even though their quests were different, their lives were connected and where they intersected - lives were changed. The curse was broke, the prince wasn’t worth it, gold isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and even beautiful the witch was, well still a witch. 

Then of course, Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin man and Lion go in search of home, brains, heart and courage. Each of these things, they either already had and didn’t know it or had it and didn’t appreciate it. By the end of the movie, they had not only received what they were looking for, but had a greater and humbler appreciation for those gifts. 

Even Jesus, had to take a quest of purpose. His quest, changes our lives because as Paul tells Timothy in this week’s passage “He saved us and called us to a holy life.” We are all on a quest of purpose. Some of us are looking for our specific purpose; others are looking to fulfill their purpose. Like Bilbo along the way we will learn to trust, to be loyal and to allow the light of God’s goodness to fill us. Like the characters of Into the Woods, we will learn that our lives are connected and that at the points where they intersect we have the power to change one another’s lives. 

As we follow after Jesus, on our quests of purpose may we do so with intelligence, love and courage.

A Prayer
Father - this quest that we are on called life is not easy, yet if we look to You, Your Son and the Spirit, we will find all we need to live the life You have called us to - a holy life of purpose, that glorifies You and changes the world around us. Help us each day to live intelligent, love filled and courageous lives. In the name of Jesus, whose quest of purpose - saved us, Amen.