The Last Starfighter and Feelings of Unworthiness

Perhaps you remember this.

“I'm looking for someone to share in an adventure.”

“An adventure? No, I don't imagine anyone west of Bree would have much interest in adventures. Nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things. Make you late for dinner.”

Or this...

“You must learn the ways of the Force if you're to come with me to Alderaan.”

“Alderaan? I'm not going to Alderaan. I've got to go home. It's late, I'm in for it as it is.”

God calls us all the time but we find many reasons for not answering the call. Maybe we are like Bilbo Baggins in “The Hobbit” and think it will be too much trouble. We are quite comfortable where are thank you. Or perhaps we are more like Luke Skywalker from “Star Wars” and we are too tied to the world we know, too much afraid of what we may be called to give up.

Then there is Alex Rogan. Alex Rogan is the hero of the 1983 (highly underrated) film, “The Last Starfighter.” In the movie Alex is called to journey to another world, to be a hero and save the galaxy. And his response?

“I'm not any of those guys, I'm just a kid from a trailer park.”

The stories we tell ourselves up on the cinematic big screen are a reflection of the spiritual journey we all undertake. It is a an epic adventure that God calls us to. An adventure to find out who we truly are.

Unworthiness

But few of us feel worthy of this calling. Isaiah, Peter, and Paul all expressed their feelings of unworthiness when God called them to fulfill their mission. In fact a feeling of utter unworthiness and distance from God is usually necessary before one accepts their mission. God wastes nothing and each of us have our task, even if we ignore it and put it off for years, if we open our hearts to listen, we will always hear God calling us to accept our role and live for something greater than ourselves.

There was a popular radio talk show host who was fond of saying that he had “talent on loan from God.” It always puzzled me that his critics were so harsh on him for using this aphorism because of course we all have talent on loan from God. We are all chosen. We are all apostles. We are all sent.

But it is up to us to respond, to answer the call. We can go on our way seeking wealth, fame and material things, or we can express ourselves in the work God has placed us here to do. And the world desperately needs us. The world needs fishers of men who speak the Truth with love.

God may call us at any stage of our life, young or old, in wealth or in poverty, and ask the question He asked Isaiah, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for me?”

May we all be ready to answer, “Here I am Lord, send me.”

Pax Vobiscum
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Read more at www.DeaconLawrence.org

© Lawrence Klimecki

Purchase fine art prints by Deacon Lawrence here.

Deacon Lawrence draws on ancient Christian tradition to create new contemporary art that seeks to connect the physical and the spiritual.. For more information on original art, prints and commissions, Please visit www.DeaconLawrence.org 

Lawrence Klimecki, MSA, is a deacon in the Diocese of Sacramento. He is a public speaker, writer, and artist, reflecting on the intersection of art and faith