Moving On

Paul and I watched Toy Story 3 the other night, expecting a light, upbeat film about Andy and his stalwart toy friends facing obstacles together and conquering in the end. Instead, we wound up teary and philosophical about the reality of change and the nature of love.

Andy, you see, is going off to college and all of his toy team can't make the trip. Who gets packed in the suitcase? Who goes in the attic? Who goes to day care and who gets put in the trash? Parting is definitely NOT sweet sorrow. Not to spoil it for you, but it doesn't end as one would think.

Throughout the story, the toys must face the fact that Andy doesn't want to play with them anymore. The relationship they had has changed. The future is not yet clear and all that is left are the memories and the heartache. What they do have, however, is each other and staying together becomes their overriding concern. When they finally recognize that Andy must move on, they are able to help him do what he cannot do himself.

Perhaps the real message here is the one from Ecclesiastes: "To everything there is a season...". Pain only comes when we hold tightly to the present that the future is trying to wrest from our grasp. If we can let it go, the transition becomes much easier. Nothing is permanent except the love of our God and the love that we choose to give; everything else is out of our control - including the reaction to the love we choose to give - and subject to change.

"Turn! Turn! Turn" was Pete Seegar's plea when he wrote the folk song (later covered by The Birds) based on the Ecclesiastes verses. I take that to mean that we can't stay glued in place, but must continue to turn to face what is coming next or it may hit us in the back of the head.

Andy, Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the playroom gang had to turn to find the sunrise from the sunset of Andy's childhood. There was new life for everyone because they did. As we all walk with God each day, we'd better be prepared to turn some corners, too.