Who Makes Up Your Movie?
In my last creative lollygagging, I asked what was the Title of Your Life movie.
When I took my wife to the first of the movie in The Hobbit trillogy, she was not aware this wasn't a stand-alone telling for Tolken's hero Biblbo Baggins. As the last few frames showed the Smog's dragon eye open among the cascading of gold coins. Normally not a person to give a vocal outburst in the theater, the "to be continued!" set her off. "What! What do you mean CONTINUED! Oh, come on! Now how long to I have to wait for the rest of story."
So, I wonder if your life movie would suddenly pause at this moment, what would your family and friends be yelling at the screen. How passionate would they about you life story and the other characters that swirl about you and movtivate your decisions and actions?
Who Makes Up the Cast of Your Movie 
Pretend you are a screenwriter fleshing out an outline of a new movie plot about your life. You have been tasked with casting the movie. This short exercise works to put your life and goals in perspective. This kind of self-reflection will help you check on the state of your life. Here are some questions to get you started.
1. How do you describe yourself as the main character?
Typically, we view ourselves based on how others see us, or we adopt too simple a concept of ourselves. Would there be a gap between how others see you and how you see yourself? How difficult would it be to close that gap? Can you bring other overlooked traits and talents to the forefront to expand your self-image?
2. What other characters play essential roles in your story?
Who has been or is currently pivotal for your story? Who are the steady influences, supports, or sources of frustrations or challenges? Is it time to change some of these relationships?
3. What is the core conflict in your life?
Every story has conflict, as does life. Looking back, is there a core conflict that has lingered and runs like a thread through your life? It may be internal, external, or both. It is likely something you continue to struggle with.
4. What is the main character’s central quest or goal?
It is that goal that shapes who you are and who you want to be.
5. Can you identify the obstacles that get in the way of reaching your goal?
You may have a lengthy list of things that get in your way of succeeding but settle on one or two of the big ones.
6. Who do you need to overcome these obstacles?
What do you need inside or outside yourself to succeed?
- Frodo had Gandalf and Samwise Gamgee.
- Sherlock Holmes had Dr Watson.
- Batman had Alfred and Robin.
- The Lone Ranger had Tonto.
- Captain Kirk had Bones and Spock.
7. How do you want your story to end
While life is never certain, it is essential to have control over the ending of your story. You and only you can make the decisions and choices about where your life will go, what will happen to your hero, even if those choices seem at times so limited.
Is Your Hero Ready?
As the hero in your own story, you may not be convinced you are up to the task. Perhaps you, like I did for years, thought that I was nothing more than a slave to others' actions and circumstances. A doctor's notice about a serious illness, a career crisis, family turmoil, or just plain evil people can shake your identity that seems to be hanging on by a thread.
Just as a pastor friend and his wife were looking forward to retirement, she suddenly had a massive stroke which paralyzed one side of her body. Their plans seemed stuck on pause as they faced daunting uncertainty. I empathized, at least from the husband's perspective, the insecurity about his wife's future. I had lost a spouse to a rapidly progressing frontotemporal dementia. In a matter of weeks there were personality changes, mood swings, constant schedule of medical tests, and the uncertain confidence from health professionals.
While still serving a very supportive church congregation, he is a hero to both his congregation and the community. He would have gladly bypassed the health and recover challenges they are dealing with. However, Daddy God knew he was the man for the lead role of his life movie.
Jesus Christ told his disciples they were chosen by Daddy God for a fruitful life outcome. "You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.”
No Second Guessing
Don’t second-guess yourself. Even the movie industry underestimates their casting choices for movie lead roles.
1. Tom Selleck was cast to play Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. It fell to Harrison Ford to bring an iconic Indy to life.
2. Will Smith - Originally cast as Neo in "The Matrix" but he turned it down for the movie "Wild, Wild West."
3. Tom Hanks - Was considered for the role of Jack in "Titanic," but it went to Leonardo DiCaprio.
4. Hugh Jackman - Was in talks for the role of James Bond before Daniel Craig was cast as Agent 007.
5. John Travolta - Almost played Forrest Gump, a role that ultimately went to Tom Hanks.
Even in the pages of the Bible, there was some unlikely casting for the heroes of the faith.
1. Joseph ben Jacob - Youngest of eleven brothers. He didn't exercise sound judgment when bragging to his family about God-stuff. Slavery, sexual temptation, and time in prison didn't bear well on his resume to lead the Egyptian empire.
2. Moses – Former royalty and murderer. Claimed to have a stuttering problem to excuse his casting as the rescuer and leader of the Israelites.
3. Gideon – Self-conscious underachiever, prone to doubting his decisions, even under the anointing of Daddy God and his successes in battle.
4. Saul – He hid from people when the king-choosing was happening for the first royal leader of Israel.
5. David – A sheepherder and part-time musician, whose father overlooked him when a prophet arrived to choose the second king of the people.
6. Samson – A roguish womanizer who loved to antagonize his enemies with destructive practical jokes.
7. Simon Peter – The sunbaked fisherman with a quick temper, who would
become a miracle-working spokesman for the believers after Christ's ascension.
8. Sarah, the Wife of Abraham -- She laughed when the angelic messengers said she would be the mother of nations, though she was well past childbearing years.
9. Rahab – A prostitute who risked it all to hide enemy spies, save her family when the city fell, and is listed in the lineage of Jesus Christ.
10. Bathsheba – The sex toy of a lustful king, but would raise King Solomon. She, too, is in the lineage of the Messiah.
11. Mary of Nazareth – A simple young woman in a backwater town who was cast to give birth to Jesus Christ as well as his brothers.
As I See It, you are likely in good company.
(An excerpt from my upcoming book)
BREAKTHROUGH: Finding Your God-Given Identity And Enjoying The Life.
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