Every movie has a moral. Whether or not we like to admit it or always live up to it. Television shows, when they originally debuted, always featured a moral. Go watch any show from the 1950s and there is a nicely stated "Well, we've learned that..." statement at the end. We still do it today, in a bastardized sense. How I Met Your Mother or Family Guy still restate their episodes' thesis statements at the end.
The Avengers' is all about trying when victory really does seem impossible. Phil Coulson (played admirably by Clark Gregg) literally dies trying. Scarlet Johannson has some awesome line about how they have to keep going, no matter what, even if it's just one or two them. They have to keep fighting for victory.
Okay, step out of the big screen. I'm a 24-year old college junior, who makes $8.50 an hour. I went through two major, traumatic life events in the last month and am not ashamed to admit I started questioning the usefulness of living life. But, thanks to an awesome set of parents, a stranger named Ben, and now, The Avengers, I'm striving.
This is a movie coming true. Remember the little neighborhood kid in Spiderman (1? 2? 3?)? Who's all like "oh, I look up to Spiderman and want to be a better person because of him"? Dude, that's me. I went and saw a movie (The Rudy theme I'm listening to just hit that big majestic, triumphant swell in the middle) and said to myself "I have to be like those heroes." I have to keep doing my best, even when it's terribly lonely and sad and the odds seem totally unbeatable. Me, with all my personal depression and heartache and anger and fear and frustration, in a little town in Utah, has to keep fighting the good fight. Even if I'm dying on some battleship bulkhead, I have to take one (mostly useless) shot at Loki, because it's what I can do. Even if I'm single-handedly fighting off an alien invasion force and there's no apparent rescue, I have to keep smashing biotechnical brains because it's what I can do. Even if I hate my job and feel lonely and depressed and just keep going because I hope things will get better, I will because it's what I can do.
I'm not Captain America. Even at my angriest, I'm not Bruce Banner. My hair will never be like Thor's. I'm not Iron Man. I can't shoot like Hawkeye and I'm certainly not Scarlet Johannson. But I'm me and I'll fight my fight because
Love your post, Nate. Hang in there and ultimately all will be well. One of my favorite quotes by Jeffrey R. Holland -- "Bad days come to an end, faith always triumphs, and heavenly promises are always kept."
ReplyDeleteCindy Moorhead
If Stan Lee knew you, I'm absolutely certain he would've made an Avenger based off of you. You're a superhero in your own rights, brother. I look up to you (even though you're 12 days younger than me *snicker*). But really, I look to you as that little kid does to Spidey. You're very talented in much more than just music and writing. If you didn't end up in my life, I'm one-hundred percent sure I would be a completely different person.
ReplyDeleteThanks, man :)
So, I'm a little slow reading the blog post. Nate, this is an incredible post. I appreciate so much your friendship and strength. The post reminds me of the Elder Holland "Good Things to Come" video/talk talked "An High Priest of Good Things to Come." I don't know much, but in the last few months, I've learned that Heavenly Father is always there for us. It's all we can do you reach out for Him. I learned that in Romania.
ReplyDeleteYou're a good egg. Keep up the fight.