Ridiculously Impossible

None of my children were interested in following the exploits of an aging Tom Cruise in Fallout, the 6th in the  MI (Mission Impossible) franchise which apparently stretches back some 22 years ago. So I roped in an "old" fren to accompany me. I think she probably regretted having to sit for some 2 1/2 hours beside a very "jumpity" old aunty , who was so noisy "ooh-ing" and "ahh-ing" in the  (thankfully) almost empty cinema on a mid-day afternoon.  I don't think she's into ogling handsome (aging) hunks running, leaping through roof-tops, bungy-jumping off cliffs or flying burning helicopters. But I had the time of my life, biting my finger-nails and peering through half-covered eyes at the mind-numbing, almost non-stop action on the big screen. Added bonus for me - on top of the hero, even the turn-coat villain was such a handsome hunk. So definitely the latest MI flick gets not only my thumbs-up but all my other fingers-up too. Notwithstanding it's tried (or rather tired) formula of self-destructing messages and noble attempts to prevent evil-doers from blowing up the whole world with nuclear weapons.

Which come to think of it, is actually a very possible scenario after all, given the state of world affairs in this age. Especially since I am sure there are no lack of people whose minds are wired like Solomon Lane, the recurring antagonist in the series, bent on creating a new world order using terror to destroy, without any compunction whatsoever for life. So to him, it doesn't matter if billions get wiped out by deliberately-released diseases or simultaneous nuclear bombs exploding across continents. It's the same to him; he sees everything wrong with the current system, so he will overturn it.. any way... just like the old Sinatra song... " I did it my way."

But actually he's got a point - there's some truth to his declaration that " There cannot be peace without first, a great suffering. The greater the suffering, the greater the peace..." To the hero, he quotes a very relevant part of the pre-recorded message that always accompanies his top-secret assignments,  "Your mission , should you choose to accept it....and then he asks , " I wonder, did you ever choose not to? The end, you've always feared… it's coming… and the blood will be on your hands! The fallout of all your good intentions."

Isn't it true, we all have all sorts of good intentions. From simple things like getting "good" jobs to provide the best for ourselves and our families, to more altruistic stuff like taking care of the environment, doing charity to help the poor and marginalized, standing up for equal rights for all, preserving the peace of the nation... And mostly we do it according to the way/s we think best. Now and then, we may listen and adopt ideas from other people, other sources. We learn to sit together at round-tables to thrash out problems. Throughout all our good intentions, we  are faced inevitably with multiple choices - to do this, that or the other.

The point is simply this - there is always a price to pay for what's dear to us, or as the devil would put it, how much for your soul? The next issue is obviously are we prepared to pay the price. It doesn't matter what the intention is, it's irrelevant even whether it's good or bad (after all, that is a matter of perspective) .  Indeed the villain of MI had grandiose plans to make the earth a peaceful place. No matter that it ironically involved instilling fear and commission of murder.

The hero also had an equally noble intention - to save the world  - and he too went to great lengths on this motivation alone, in spite of set-backs, disappointments and betrayal. Both were prepared to die for their cause.  In fact the things the hero did were logically, physically, ridiculously impossible. Who can leap through roofs, as if they were roads, or maneuver a motorcycle (even if it's a super-duper bike) against layers of traffic , who can fly a helicopter with failed engines in an aerial fight to the death? And still walk away with the prize of a disabled detonator in the mouth, hanging onto a cliff face amidst the beauty of Kashmir's mountains? Well, heroes never die, they just live to fight another day. Even if they get killed off, it's so that good will always triumph over evil. That's movie-land.

We tend to shrug it all off when the lights come on and we walk back into the reality of our little mundane lives. Which is unfortunate, because actually movies mimic reality. We know deep in our hearts, somethings are just plain wrong when wars break out - no need to look afar to nations - just look outside our own backyard - to ordinary people pitted against each other, engaged in stirring up hate and mistrust instead of love and unity.  The reasons can vary from religion, race, gender, politics, values, morality. Most certainly death is a horrible tragedy, whether it's 1 individual dying of cancer, or thousands swallowed up by a tsunami. Surely a heart that's human must feel something at the common suffering of mankind and the bad things that happen all over the world. Is there a real hero we can actually hope in?  Or are we confined to just accepting what the mad Solomon Lane said... "The end, you've always feared… it's coming… and the blood will be on your hands! The fallout of all your good intentions."

The truth of the matter is man cannot save man, it doesn't matter what skin color we are born with, where we are located in the world, what political or religious stands we hold, we are all only one kind - sinners in the eyes of a Holy God who deserve  judgment. That, as we would say, is the bad news. But the God who so loved the world He created good has good news - He sent a hero, Jesus Christ, the Anointed One, incarnated into flesh and blood, to planet earth to do fantastic things. This hero  didn't come riding on a white horse or driving a fancy car. He simply walked around, or at most sat on a donkey, but He did crazy things - He opened blind eyes, healed all manner of sick, cast out demons, stilled the storm and raised the dead.  He didn't fight His enemies; He loved them.  He didn't cheat death; He conquered it by the greatest suffering of dying on a cross - by His blood wiping out forever the stain of sin from man's miserable record. And ultimately He did the impossible - He Himself rose up alive; a tomb couldn't shut Him in.

He could have chosen not to accept His assignment to save the world of man from destruction. But He didn't flinch; He went all the way and accomplished His mission - by His own death and resurrection. His story isn't a movie tale, cast in jaw-dropping high speed stunts.  In the eyes of doubting men, it is a ridiculously impossible story. But there was no falling out of the divinely ordained good intention - the salvation of sinners . And for those who dare believe Him, it's a story of hope secured, forgiveness assured, redemption purchased, victory attained - in this world and beyond. It's a story Hollywood can never compete with. 

'Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Luke 18:26-27