This past week I took Rosie to see a new animated film at the cinema called Two By Two. The story is based around Noah’s Ark. It’s the end of the world, and a terrible flood is coming, set to wipe out all life as it is known. The good news is, a huge Ark has been constructed to save all the animals, which is great news to Dave and his son, Finny – two quirky creatures known as Nestrians.
Having already breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that they will be saved, the father/son duo are in for a real shock when they learn that Nestrians aren’t on Noah’s list and won’t be getting on the Ark. Refusing to take no for an answer, the pair attempt to sneak their way onto the highly exclusive boat, enlisting the help of Hazel and her daughter, Leah – two Grymps who unknowingly become a part of the Nestrians’ ploy to climb aboard. The four creatures climb aboard incognito, until Leah and Finny topple off the Ark!
As Finny and Leah fight for their life against the treacherous floods, fending off the dangerous predators, it’s up to Dave and Hazel to do everything they can to turn the Ark around and return for their kids. An underlying story within the film is that the Nestrians never stay anywhere long because they have never felt ‘at home’. Not being on Noah’s list heightens this awareness of never feeling accepted. They spend all the film running away and being scared of the water, when near the end they realise (through accident) that their home was indeed in the water! Which is why Noah didn’t put them on the list to be on the ark – they could survive without it.
It struck me that there are times in life when we feel we don’t fit in. We try all sorts of things to help find our ‘home’ but in reality and in the long run, those things don’t help and often heighten those feelings of unsettledness and not being wanted. The thing that we actually need and that is good for us is right in front of us.
The story of the Prodigal Son came to mind when I was thinking about this. The son wanted to run away and try all these different things in the hope that he would find fulfilment and happiness. But in the end, he finds all of this in the arms of his father – the person that was there all along.
We can find all we need in the arms of our Father God. We may not always think it’s best; and sometimes we may be scared of what that means for us.
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father.
There is no shadow of turning with thee
Thou changest not, they compassions they fail not;
As thou has been thou forever will be
Great is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness.
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed they hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
I pray that we will always seek God to find our ‘home’.
God Bless.
Captain Clare