I recently watched the movie Cast Away again and started thinking a little deeper about the movie and some ideas it presents. For those of you who may not have seen the movie, It's about a Fed Ex guy who gets stranded on a remote island for five years. Along the way he befriends a volleyball that was in one of the packages that washed up on the beach. He names the volleyball Wilson because it's the name of the maker and throughout the movie he clings to this ball as his only friend.
It didn't really hit me until it's towards the end of the movie and he's on his raft headed back to civilization and the volleyball falls off the raft. He immediately jumps into the water to rescue his "friend" and when he can't he apologizes for it over and over again. It made me think about how a lot of time in life we cling to things that aren't necessarily good for us. I think all of us, at some point, have our "Wilsons" that we consider to be precious beyond measure. In Matthew 6:20, it says, "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Everything in this earth is going to pass away. It's not going to matter what we have in life. We tend to hold onto things like this as if they were some sort of life raft and when they leave, it's like the entire world falls against us. This can come in the form of a car accident, losing a job, and so many things.
Luke 12:28-29 says, "If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it." God loves you! He's going to look after your needs no matter what. Recently I had a car accident and for a week I didn't know what I was going to do. I'm a delivery driver, so it was more than simply an accident to me - I was losing my job too. Now, knowing where I am and what became of that accident, I wouldn't take it back. I have a new car and on Monday I start a new job, still delivering, but where I'll make more money.
The accident came at a time when I was getting over an addiction that I'd been going through for nine months. I was just starting to sort my life out and reconnect with old friends and I instantly blamed God. I thought, "if I'm doing all of this, then why would you let this happen to me?" However because of that accident I got a new car that I enjoy even more than my old car. It's a car that I can cruise in rather than just feeling like I have to get from point A to point B as fast as I can.
Like Tom Hanks in Castaway, I was so quick to try my best to hold on to my Wilson, the old car I used to drive. Even though God wanted me to be able to get a different car that I would enjoy more, I didn't want it. I found myself in a place where I just wanted to get back to my addiction... and I did for about a week. In the end, it was my friends that helped me get out of it. had I not lost my car, I'd still be in the same job and while I would have had a little less hardship, I probably wouldn't have had the desire to donate plasma, something I wouldn't give up now, only two weeks into it.
In the end, letting go of Wilson helped me get to a place where God could show me just how special he was, just how much he wanted to take care of me. What's your WIlson? And would you be willing to let it go? I'm not saying you should get rid of your car or quit your job - just think about it. Are there things that you make more important than anything else in life? Things your put before God? Exodus 20:3 says, "You shall have no other gods before me." I don't think this applies simply literally. I think God wants us to put him before EVERYTHING. Before our jobs and our posessions - He did. Think about it. God gave up his son to die for us on the cross. Would you? God cares about us enough to do that... and sometimes he wants us to let go of the things we hold onto so tightly we can't see him. Sometimes he whispers in our ears, "Let it go." The next time he does.. will you listen?
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