The Lion King

a deeply theological movie.

it certainly wasn't my first choice for a move (but emily insisted). don't get me wrong, i love this movie. i remember the first time i saw it as a child with my mom - we watched it twice that day! and i've seen it over and over again. but this time, as i watched it again - i saw it for the first time.

here is a story of a child who is decieved. and the one who should be trustworthy and loving (his family, his uncle) speaks lies to him. simba is just a child, he can't fight for himself. he can't tell his uncle, 'no, you're a liar.' he is too young. so he believes his uncle and flees in fear. then, his whole life his identity is completely a result of this lie that is planted early in his life: he is a murder. he carries on helping himself forget his past by indulging in the pleasures of this world with his friends until his past confronts him directly and he can no longer hide from his life.
enter rafiki (everyone's favorite, come on!) who confronts him with a new idea - the past, the lies don't get to define who we are. there is something greater concerning our identity.
famous rafiki quotes include:
"you are a baboon, and i'm not."
"the question is WHO are you?" (simba says, "i thought i knew, but now i'm not so sure.")
"i am not the one who is confused, you don't even know who you are."
"you're mufasa's boy!"

now listen to this conversation between simba and rafiki:
S: "you knew my father?"
R: "correction, i know your fader."
S: "i hate to have to tell you this, but he died, a long time ago."
R: "nope! wrong again! he's ALIVE, and i show him to you!"
"look down there."
S: "that's not my father, that's just my reflection."
R:" look harda."

enter the big cloud filled revelation of mufasa.
M: simba, you have forgotten me.
S: no. how could i?
M: you have forgotten who you are and so you have forgotten me. you are my son, and the one true king. remember who you are.

simba is finally confronted with words of truth. and after this and a revelation of his father his identity is redefined - "you are my son. and the one true king." it has always been true. but it didn't matter. it only matters what we believe about who we are. we can believe scar - who speaks nothing but lies and deciet. or we can believe mufasa, our father - who only speaks the truth in love.
simba still has to go back and face his accuser - and reclaim his kingdom, his rightful place that he has willingly and fearfully avoided his whole life. but he goes with the confidence that what his father says about him is more powerful that what he has believed his whole life.
there is a battle that follows. it is not over at the moment of revelation. but it is the begining of the end.

it meant something new to me that night. it became a new story. a redemptive one. an encouraging one. a good one.