Beyond the Known: Rediscovering Mystery and Awe
Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, we go alien hunting with Close Encounters of the Third Kind. This movie invites you into a world of mystery, wonder, and awe—three things that are woefully lacking in our everyday lives. But we can recover that magic by slowing down, understanding the larger story that’s driven by the characters we encounter. Join us as we discover God’s truth in this movie
The Quotes
No matter how sure you are, there comes a point where you realize you might be wrong.
Our calling is messy, and we can talk ourselves out of it.
What makes this story matter is because the characters matter.
Themes
Sense of mystery and wonder.
Impact of transformational moments. Both Ronny and Roy see something they can’t explain, but have different responses.
Following the calling and purpose we’ve been given
We will see dead livestock along the way
It won’t be stress free
It’s the irresistible pull on our hearts
Sometimes it’s a calling we wish we didn’t have
Our calling is not just for us, but for those impacted along the way
The characters are more important than the calling
How to rediscover mystery, wonder, and awe
Slow down your pace
Understand the context of our lives
Character driven: understand who you are, who you want to be, and what’s most important
Resources
The Lion Trackers Guide to Life by Boyd Varty
A Perfect Flock by Mike Bogue
Watching the World Die: Nuclear Threat Films of the 19080’s by Mike Bogue
Questions
How have you responded when you see something you can’t explain?
What has been the irresistible calling on your life?
What dead livestock have you seen as you followed that calling?
How do we maintain a sense of wonder and awe?
What would it be like to slow down?
What is your understanding of the context of your life?
Is your life action driven or character driven?
More info
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Edited and mixed by Grayson Foster
Logo and episode templates by Ian Johnston
Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).
Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock.
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