Wonder Woman

Ok - I admit it.  When I was a kid, I watched Wonder Woman. And I dreamed...and knew...that one day I'd be like her - pretty, smart, wearing a cool outfit, and flying an invisible plane.  It's a familiar and comforting memory for me.

I've found that reading fiction and seeing movies often give me context for thinking about the Christian faith.  That context helps me to process and understand my faith.

When I read that, in the new movie, Wonder Woman's mother tells her, "They [mankind] don't deserve you," I made plans to see the movie.

My thoughts...

1.  On the way to their mission, Wonder Woman (Diana Prince) and Steve Trevor pass through the trenches of World War I.  Diana wants to help the people who are suffering and dying because of trench warfare, but Steve tells her that she needs to look at the big picture, that she can't save everyone.  She counters that looking at the big picture might be his way, but it's not her way, that she came for all the people who are hurting and she is going to do something...now.  And she does.  A very cool action scene follows.

When I saw the exchange between Steve and Diana - I thought of Jesus who came for all sinners.  Jesus knew the big picture, but He also took time to care for the hurting and needy people around Him.

2. Wonder Woman's enemy is the villian Ares.  She thinks that, once she kills Ares, mankind's problems will be solved.  She later realizes that men will always have an element of evil, and she decides her mission is to stay and help them.

In today's world, many people think that we can solve all the world's problems...if we just believe correctly, follow science in a certain way, or have the perfect political system.  I like that the movie recognized that all men are sinful, that our world needs help.

3. My favorite scene...Diana is on a bridge, walking and passing by hurting and wounded people, especially soldiers.  There was something about the compassion, the empathy in her eyes...it touched me.  I thought of Jesus, walking among us, seeing hurting people, seeing the needy and the hopeless. 

I later asked my 17-year old son what he thought of that scene.  He said, "That's probably how Jesus felt."  

When I can enjoy a movie, and make those faith connections, for me, that's time and money well spent.