I just can’t seem to get this movie,”The Secret Live of Walter Mitty.” , out of my head. He was a dreamer, and I really like dreamers. Problem was, he just lived in the dream phase, and never stepped out. He didn’t actually have adventures, he did not actually chase anything, or experience things; he just daydreamed. One of the many things I really loved about this movie was some of it’ more subtle messages.
All along you think the hero — the focus, the amazing person, the star of the movie — is the rogue photographer. Walter is chasing this photographer around the planet. The guy lives a life of unpredictable, incredible moments. And he is known for his ability to capture those rare, exotic, and epic moments.
Yet, in the end, the real hero is not this photographer, but Walter himself. His regular, “mundane” job is made fun of at the beginning of the film, but in the end his loyalty, his faithfulness, the excellence with which he does his job, is what is celebrated.
Walter’s challenge was not to doing his job. His challenge was to live a life with a sense of awe, and mystery, and to have a willingness to risk and seek adventure within the essence of who he was and what he was created to do. His challenge was to not get stuck in a rut, to not bury his desires, talents, or his passion, but rather to bring his unique, distinctive gifts right into the day-to-day realities of life. Walter was then called to choose his desires, soak in the moments, and to connect deeply with people.
So I wonder what that looks like for me… embracing the realities of my life but remaining determined not to settle… to live life with a sense of discovery ….. to embrace mystery and be willing to risk; not recklessly risk but risk and take some chances… to continue to step out, and keep pursuing the calling, the hopes, the dreams, God has put on my heart.
By doing that, and at the same time being faithful and true in the day-to-day realities of life…… that is the challenge …. and that may be a heroic way to live.
