WAKING LIFE (2001)

Directed by: Richard Linklater
Written by: Richard Linklater
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Starring: Wiley Wiggins, Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy
Rated: R

About the film:
An animated film follows a man in a dreamlike state who meets a number of individuals who express their thoughts and opinions on a myriad of philosophical topics such as the meaning of life, death, and perception.

Movie Quote:
“The truth is out there in front of you, but they lay out this buffet of lies.”
Man in Car (Alex Jones) in Waking Life (2001)

Bible Quote:
“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NIV)

Commentary:
There is a truth that exists in this world. It is so strong and pure and dynamic, that no lie could ever stand against it. Our spiritual enemy knows this and so he doesn’t present to us a “believe me or Him” ultimatum. He’s much craftier than that.

The ploy our adversary takes can be best described as a spiritual “Where’s Waldo” puzzle. The difficulty in “finding” Waldo in these puzzles comes from the abundant buffet of activity that fills the rest of the scene. There’s only one Waldo, but there’s hundreds of other images that distract us and keep us from seeing him. The devil doesn’t care what we believe, as long as it isn’t the truth.

We must condition ourselves and our minds to focus on finding God’s truth… the one truth set amid a sea of lies. We need not be blinded or distracted from the truth God wants us to know. Finding it, like finding Waldo, can sometimes be difficult. But it isn’t impossible. It simply takes a concentrated effort, perseverance, and the ability to recognize it when you see it.

Questions to consider while watching the film:
1. The best lies are the ones which most closely resemble the truth. In what ways has our spiritual adversary used the above statement to deceive people?
2. What enables us to discern between the truth and all the lies that contradict it? How do we keep our minds from being blinded?

Michael Elliott
www.screensermon.blogspot.com