Finding Nemo

We watched “Finding Nemo” a few weeks ago.

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It had been a long, long time since I’d seen it last.

I have to say, I don’t remember not liking Nemo’s dad, Marlin.

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His parenting style in the beginning of the movie
was a tad beyond crazy overprotective.

And this is coming from a mom who STILL
doesn’t like to give her daughters hard candy
because CHOKING HAZARD.

The line that popped out to me towards the end of the movie is when Marlin is finally reunited with Nemo and he says to his son,

“I promise I won’t let anything ever happen to you.” 

Dory, the comic relief, responded,

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“That’s a funny thing to promise.
Well, you can’t never let anything happen to him. 
Then nothing would ever happen to him."

Think about that.

It’s more of a trap than a promise.

More prison than protection.

To promise a life free of “anything happening,”

isn’t living.

God hasn’t made that promise to us.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. 

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

And God certainly never made that promise to: 

Noah,

Moses,

Abraham,

Daniel,

Jonah,

David,

Mary,

Paul.

So why would someone make that promise to their kids?

Or their spouse?

Or their friends?

It’s a twisted thing,

this control that we wrap up all pretty
and call love
and protection
and concern.

It debilitates.

I fight it every time McDaniel asks to borrow the car.

Why can’t she just stay home so nothing will happen to her?!

 Nothing being experience
and confidence
and independence
and  LIVING.

What I loved about “Finding Nemo” this time around, 

was realizing it wasn’t just a “coming into his own” movie about Nemo.

Or a parent’s guide to letting go.

It’s a movie about faith.

Trust.

Starting out on journey alone
only to to realize we can’t do it alone.

“I lift my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? 
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth."
Psalm 121:1-2

That perseverance pays off.

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“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

Hebrews 10:35

And just because we are never promised that “nothing will ever happen to us,” 

it doesn’t mean we aren’t cared for

or loved.

It means we are FREE.

Free to do God’s will.

And that should provide us some 

pretty awesome and harrowing 

stories to tell.

“The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; 
the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

Psalm 121:7-8

So let’s learn from “Finding Nemo”.

Let’s be freedom encouragers!

Encouraging not just our kids into adventures,

but having a few adventures of our own. 

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:24-25