Why do we all want to be a Na’vi?

Well, if you don’t know what a Na’vi is, then you haven’t seen Avatar.  I was actually pretty skeptical when I went to watch it, and I was blown away.

First off, it is a visual paradise.  The CGI is the best, simply put.  They even had their own 3D camera invented for all the shots they took.  James Cameron created a world that we all wanted to be a part of, and by the end of the movie, I clung to the hope that I could somehow, someway, actually become a Na’vi.

My question is, why?  Why did I feel that pull?  Obviously, I’m not the only one who feels this way, as Avatar continues to rise up the list of the top-earning box office movies of all time (it passed #3 Star Wars: Return of the Jedi pretty quickly, and #2 the Dark Knight got bumped off this weekend).

Look at the world on Pandora: it’s dangerous, it’s foreign, it’s mystical.  In reality, it’d be a tough existence.  Imagine not having cars or cell phones.  That’s tough.  So why?

The simple beauty, faith, and way of life of the Na’vi connects with something in our hearts.  What Pandora represents is a world where the impossible is normal and everyone and everything is intimately soul-connected.  It makes me think of Eden, actually.

Whether we know it or not, there’s something in our hearts that has grown tired of the complicated lives we lead.  Anyone watching the movie can identify with some aspect of the Na’vi way of life that is different, and most likely simpler, than theirs.

So what do we do about it?  I don’t think we’re gonna find another life-giving planet anytime soon, and even if we did, I don’t think escape is the answer.

How do we simplify our lives so that the work we do is meaningful and enjoyable and the connections we have are peaceful and powerful, whether that’s with God, other people, or the world.

Avatar has touched the desire that everyone has in their heart for the restoration of the Garden of Eden, where right and wrong is clear cut and man is at peace with himself, with the world, and with God.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 11:10 am and is filed under Main. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.