They do not die at the end of the movie!!!
You’re Killing Me Here, Gary!
On Sunday Gary Hansen talked with us about encouragement. Using several great examples from Toy Story 3 and Hebrews 10:19-25, Gary pointed out the power we have to Encourage One Another.
The clip that was shown from the Toy Story movie came near the end of the film, and found Woody, Buzz and all of their friends in a life threatening position. They had found their way out of Sunnyside Day Care, unfortunately through the garbage shoot, which had transported them to the dump where they were unceremoniously tossed into the incinerator. The clip opened with the toys trying with all their might to save themselves from their predicament. However, one by one they realize that there was no way out for them. And, in an effort to find comfort, they linked hands to face the fiery end together.
AND THAT’S WHERE IT STOPPED!
They didn’t show the rest of the scene. They didn’t show their inevitable rescue and happy ending! And it was sooo painful!
But the more I thought about it the more that I appreciated the choice. You see, my sister has been going through a really rough period in her life lately. Life is taking her down a path that she would never have chosen and doesn’t want to travel. There is nothing that I can do to change her circumstances or fix her problems. But I can hold her hand, and talk to her on the phone and spend the weekend with her in Leavenworth. And even though there have been many times in this hard patch where it looked like things were going to get easier or we got a glimpse of a bend in the path to brighter things, so far the outcome hoped for hasn’t happened. It may be a while yet before she finds a lift up and out. And in many circumstances in life the “happy ending” we are hoping for never comes. But we have each other.
And as a community of believers we have our Faith, that assures us of God’s love for us, and fills us with the HOPE of eternity with Him, and with His LOVE, that can pour out of us into the lives of those around us. We have the gift of presence and the power of encouragement to face the hard things together.
Working this out Together…Phil 2:12
Jamie