This week has been a little rough. Leaving my job as a youth pastor was difficult. Even though I know I’m doing what God has called me to do, it was still hard to have my last two nights at youth group. After I spent 20 minutes crying on Tuesday night, I thought for sure I wouldn’t have any tears left for Wednesday night. Alas, Wednesday night came and so did the tears.
It’s very emotional leaving the job I had for over eight years. I’m still processing my transition and will definitely have more to write about next week. I have a great opportunity to process this past week because I am currently in Hawaii. My grandma celebrated her 85th birthday this year and I’m here with my sister and my dad to honor my grandma. My quick trip to Hawaii feels a little bit like an escape after a long, emotional week.
Since I’m having my own escape this week, here are some nerdy escapes.
The Second Death Star
It is amazing that the Empire thought another massive, armored space station would be a good idea. Both Death Stars took tremendous amounts of resources, resources that could have been spent on more TIE fighters, more Star Destroyers and more training for how to defeat teddy bears. However, as ill fated an idea as it was, the second Death Star created an exciting opportunity for an escape. I love when the Millennium Falcon is flying out of the Death Star, flames engulfing the Corellian freighter. I still get goose bumps when the Falcon makes its escape and Nien Nunb has the most awkward laugh ever.
Great Eagles
I think the term “deus ex machina” was invented to describe the Great Eagles from Lord of the Rings. Those Eagles show up at exactly the right moments. Whenever our heroes find themselves in the most dire and inescapable of situations, those Eagles fly in for the rescue. They rescue Bilbo and the dwarves in The Hobbit, they rescue Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Ring and they save Sam and Frodo from Mt. Doom. The obvious question is why didn’t they just fly Frodo to Mt. Doom in the first place? Seriously, if you’ve read The Silmarillion and know the answer, please let me know.
Baymax
If you haven’t seen Big Hero 6, you may want to skip the rest of this post. Big Hero 6 is a great movie with a wonderful hero in Baymax. At the end of the movie Hiro and Baymax are in another dimension with the portal back to reality quickly closing. Baymax sacrifices himself so that Hiro can make his escape. I honestly thought that was the end of Baymax and we’d seen the last of the heroic marshmallow. Thankfully, though, Baymax had his own escape in mind and was able to send his core programming back with Hiro, ensuring his own survival. I liked Baymax’s sacrifice, which enabled Hiro to escape.
I’m very excited and grateful for my time in Hawaii. In God’s providence and perfect timing, he knew I would need an opportunity to unplug and reflect. And honestly, I can’t think of a better place to unplug and connect than the paradise of Hawaii.
What do you think are some of the most harrowing nerdy escapes?
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