Finding Nemo – the story of one little fish in a vast ocean in search of his son – evoked an emotional chord within me as I watched how this loving father conquered his fear of the unknown, to leave behind his comfort zone in search of his reason for being – his son, Nemo. With only the help of his forgetful companion Dory is the father, Marlin, able to overcome obstacles on the way – sharks, jellyfish, seagulls, and monsters of the deep.
Paralleling the courage, determination, and perseverance in the story, I am reminded of the greatest journey in my own life – my search for God. The road is grueling and full of challenges, but the most satisfying reward is the joy and happiness that fills my heart and soul at having found the One I’ve been seeking. All at once, my fears of the unknown, the dangers I am faced with, and all the disappointments I have to endure become the things that define who I am. Just like Marlin, I dare my surrounding to give me its worst, knowing that the reward at the end of my journey is worth more than life itself. Sure these actions require determination and perseverance, but when I’ve finally found God, the joy that is in store for me will be worth more than the pains and hurts of the past. For this is God’s power over all earthly things, He can heal our deepest pains and finally give us the freedom to live out our own paradise.
In Finding Nemo, Marlin’s single-most important task was to give his all in his pursuit of his son, not allowing the little things to hinder his efforts. This is also how our Heavenly Father pursues us, giving us His ALL, seeking us out no matter how far apart we are from Him. There are so many instances when we are just so caught up in our own pursuits that God sometimes has to “grab” our attention through hard times in our lives, through people around us that are hurting, or sometimes just by opening pages of the Bible. I can’t tell you how many times I simply have not noticed or even ignored Him, but He has always been there for me, seeking me out.
Perhaps one aspect of our journey that we sometimes take for granted is having companions like Dory, who will go to the ends of the worlds with us, willing to suffer as we suffer, willing to share our joys, our heartaches. Sometimes they become our inner voice, giving us something to think about, yet help to direct us to the right paths to God. Such companions are blessings that become permanent fixtures in our hearts.
Towards the end of the film, Dory became trapped in a fishing net with countless other fish. Little Nemo wanted nothing more than to rescue Dory but was stopped by his father. Marlin refused to let him go because he feared he would lose his only son again. Only once Marlin was able to trust that he had no control over what’s going to happen was Nemo finally able to rescue Dory. This reminds me so much of our own search for God – when we are finally able to let go of our fears can we truly experience our own freedom.
We are after all just one little fish is a vast, bottomless ocean. Yet we can rest in the knowledge that our Heavenly Father will always seek us out. All we have to do is learn how to let go of our own fears before we can be free to make that choice to find Him.
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 4:29
1 comment:
Dear Noel...It is a little bit late but I couldn't go to bed without first thanking you that you will be praying for my sister, Betty.
We are two sisters that have been very close all of our lives and she has always been there for me.
I guess as we get older, we will be going through health trials like this and it is really hard but it is so precious to me that my friends are praying for her.
Tomorrow they will be taking her by ambulance to Hamilton and depending how the angiogram goes, she will either be sent back to the Welland Hospital or dicharged from the Hamilton Hospital.
I am planning on printing out my blog comments and giving it to Betty. It will be some beautiful get well card, eh Noel?
Thank you so much again for your concern and your prayers...From Terry
Just to think I never even knew you a couple of months ago and yet now I consider you a dear friend! How lovely it will be when we all meet in heaven and talk about all the times that the Lord has sent people into our lives who have been such an encouragment!
I am still praying for your little family who are so close and dear to your heart Noel..
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