Lessons gleaned from movies

I love watching movies, but not only for recreational purposes. After watching, I reflect about the deeper messages that the story conveyed. I'm inspired to see that even in movies, produced for entertainment, universal principles and values often shine and touch the hearts of many.

One of my favorite movie series is the "Kung Fu Panda" trilogy. To be honest, I had low expectations when my friends and I decided to watch the first one. But when the end credits started rolling, I thought, "Wow, I'm impressed." The second one was even better, and surprisingly, the third topped them all, and as we all know, that isn't easy to do.

In my perspective, these movies are all about 2 major themes: identity, and destiny. And it is emphasized in the stories about this odd panda that the greatest destiny is one lived for the greater good.

I'll talk particularly about the third movie. If you haven't seen it but plan to, here's a big spoiler alert! If you stop reading here, then I will leave you with a recommendation to watch these movies.

In one of the final scenes of the movie, Master Oogway and Po meet in the spirit realm. They have the following conversation:

Oogway: You finally became the panda you were always meant to be.

Po: But, how'd you know I could?

Oogway: On the first day we met, I saw the future of kung fu, and the past. I saw the panda who could unite them both. That is why I chose you, Po.

Throughout the entire series, Po seems inadequate to become the legendary "Dragon Warrior". Many viewers probably thought that Oogway made a mistake in the very beginning when he chose Po. But Oogway never doubted. Why? Because he saw Po not only as an individual, but as a product of the past, and with the potential for the future. Oogway had experience with the power of chi that the past generation of pandas wielded. He knew Po, as a descendant, came on that foundation, and therefore had the potential to become great.

I believe God sees us this way, too. I believe this is how He guides His providence. None of us are solely individuals - we come on the foundation of our past, standing on the merits of our ancestors. God has led humanity to become better and better through each generation. And as the movie suggests, only through knowing who we are and where we come from can we fulfill our ultimate destiny to better the world for those to come.

-Maruko Breland