Posted on 10/09/2021 6:21:45 AM PDT by rebuildus
Every day we are bombarded with more and more outrages. Our nation and world are on fire, and we’ve learned that we’ve been betrayed on just about every level imaginable, not the least coming from our own wicked hearts.
So amongst this raging inferno, why am I writing essentially a movie review?
For the same reason we may go to church, spend time among loved ones, and pray–because amongst the profound physical challenges in our world, feeding our spirit has never been so important.
Plus sometimes–after a day of work, or on a day off–we need some R & R… Nobody can or should work nonstop. This too is good for our spirit.
A good movie can be entertaining, but also educational and even quite inspiring. I saw such a movie recently. It was the story of a high-wire artist who set out to walk between the summits of the Twin Towers in New York City.
Sounds absolutely crazy, right?
This was the dream of a French man named Philippe Petit.
The movie is The Walk, made in 2015 (the “walk” itself occurred in 1974) and I highly recommend it.
There was also a documentary made about Philippe and “the walk,” called Man On Wire, which I have not yet seen, but heard is quite good, perhaps even better than The Walk. It’s hard to beat a good documentary, at least for me.
Philippe also wrote a book about this experience called To Reach the Clouds: My High Wire Walk Between the Twin Towers.
I don’t want to oversell the movie. So often a movie comes “highly recommended”… “don’t miss”… “run, don’t walk”, etc. Perhaps you will not see what I saw. It’s hard to tell. We’re different.
But–without giving too much away–I was just blown away about the sheer audacity of the endeavor. What kind of faith does it take to even attempt such a feat?!
And what kind of feat have we been delaying in our own lives? What kind of dream?
This is one thing that I believe is quite sad about today’s world–the wall-to-wall insanity is always beckoning us to react to it, to immerse ourselves in it, to pull us away from our unique gifts.
There is such beauty inside us, and all around us, yet we are constantly being pulled into either joining or judging the ugliness.
What I saw Besides the obvious message of faith vs. fear, The Walk also showed that with adherence to Philippe Petit’s vision also came relentless determination, the building of a team to achieve it, the willingness to do painstaking research and methodical planning, suffer enduring patience, and putting it all together–follow through with the plan.
This is not about getting caught up in whether Philippe’s “walk” was a foolish risk (Philippe refused a safety net–one miscue from over 1,300 feet would obviously result in a horrific death). I’m not advocating anyone try to copy his feat at some other stratospheric location, although there are always thrill seekers who are drawn to that kind of thing.
But I am advocating that you see the lessons (principles) that Philippe followed in pursuit of his dream.
Some years back, I saw an acrobatic horse show produced by Cavalia–it forever changed my perception about what was possible for humans to achieve.
Watching The Walk brought that realization back to me.
The Walk and 9-11 The tragic “elephant in the room” in any discussion of the Twin Towers is the eternal specter of 9-11. The connection I see between Philippe’s “walk” and that fateful day is a contrast between the possibilities of life, and the impossibilities death brings.
Philippe discussed his reaction to 9-11 HERE.
So if you choose to take this step and see The Walk or the documentary, Man On Wire, please let me know your reaction, and what stuck with you. Thanks!
Patrick Rooney is the Founder of OldSchoolUs.com. He communicates clearly and fearlessly during perilous times about natural health, success, and freedom. To reach Patrick, email him at info@oldschoolus.com.
I have not watched the movie yet. but did view his view on teh towers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzRffFXKAZY
This is short. It did remind me of how quickly the 9-11 has been removed from our memory.
Why are we not seeing reminders of 9/11 , they want us to forget. It has been removed from history but it is still there if we will only look.
“Why are we not seeing reminders of 9/11 , they want us to forget. It has been removed from history but it is still there if we will only look.”
I agree. Worse, they tried this last anniversary to change the emphasis from Islamic terrorists to “domestic terrorists.” What an absolute insult, and obvious political ploy to demonize their opposition.
Bkmk
Keep in mind that Jesus died for using a similar phrase. Yes, He was put to death for simply saying some words about His own identity.
He said “You shall see [Him] coming on the clouds of heaven...” He was quoting from an old testament verse where it was GOD Who was coming on the clouds of heaven.
He also used the hebrew phrase “Ani Hu” which was considered too holy to utter except once a year by the high priest, and that Jesus would be seated at the Right Hand of Power, which meant He was equal with God Himself.
Far more meaningful, far more consequential to history, far more spiritual than this tightrope walker.
“Keep in mind that Jesus died for using a similar phrase. Yes, He was put to death for simply saying some words about His own identity.
He said “You shall see [Him] coming on the clouds of heaven...” He was quoting from an old testament verse where it was GOD Who was coming on the clouds of heaven.
He also used the hebrew phrase “Ani Hu” which was considered too holy to utter except once a year by the high priest, and that Jesus would be seated at the Right Hand of Power, which meant He was equal with God Himself.
Far more meaningful, far more consequential to history, far more spiritual than this tightrope walker.”
You’re not helping bring people to Jesus with derogatory comments about a man who achieved something powerful. Jesus wanted to inspire others to do amazing things. But there’s nothing inspiring about what you’re saying.
Nonsense. You just don’t want people to hear about Jesus claiming to be God Himself. The tie in is the phrase “walking in the clouds”, not the person you’re going out of your way to pretend was insulted.
“Nonsense. You just don’t want people to hear about Jesus claiming to be God Himself...”
Newflash—Jesus isn’t God, he’s the Son of God. He’s our greatest example of what is possible for us. If he were God, and not God’s son coming down to live with us, there would be nothing for us to aspire too, as there’s no way we could be God.
Newflash—Jesus isn’t God, he’s the Son of God.
***That wouldn’t be NEWS, that would be your rendition of it, your FAKEnews, your religious and invalid opinion.
He’s our greatest example of what is possible for us.
***He was put to death for blasphemy, for claiming equality with God Himself. Even His enemies at the time acknowledge this claim, but you are here 2000 years later pretending to be His friend and distorting what He died for on that day — He died answering only one question about His identity.
If he were God,
***There is only one God. And yes, He was God. John 1:1
and not God’s son
***Who’s saying He was NOT God’s son? Not me. You’re arguing against something you propped up, commonly known as the classsical fallacy of straw argument. Jesus was God Himself, AND He was God the Son.
coming down to live with us,
***Coming down from where? From Heaven. From where He is equal [sitting at the right hand of Power] with God, coming on the clouds of heaven [God is the one Who came on those clouds] and in the future, will judge those who judged Him. You lack a fundamental understanding of Who Jesus IS.
there would be nothing for us to aspire too, as there’s no way we could be God.
***There IS not way we could be God. What kind of heretical nonsense are you pushing here? There is only one God, and He has manifested Himself in 3 persons: The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit — 3 in One. You and I are NOT God and can NEVER become God.
***Coming down from where? From Heaven. From where He is equal [sitting at the right hand of Power] with God, coming on the clouds of heaven [God is the one Who came on those clouds] and in the future, will judge those who judged Him. You lack a fundamental understanding of Who Jesus IS.
In addition... Jesus answered “I am He”, which in Hebrew is Ani Hu, 2 words that were considered too holy to utter but once per year in the temple by the high priest. The high priest would say “Ani Hu!”, and the congregation would respond “Hosanna!” antiphonally. That would be in English: “I am HE!”... “Then save us!”
That’s why we can tell the guards who were arresting Jesus at the garden of Gethsemane were temple guards because when He responded to their statement “we are here for Jesus of Nazareth”, He said “Ani Hu!” and they were just about ready to fall on their knees and say “Then save us!” in that brutal day of religious Kobuki Theatre.
John 18:4-6
4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
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