“It’s time to ask yourself what you believe!” So says the Chief Nazi in the Indiana Jones series of films.
What a compelling and chilling question?! How many times have you been confronted with a circumstance that required you to ask yourself just what you believe?
Following that, the criminal fires his pistol into the stomach of Sean Connery (Dr. Jones) and compels Harrison Ford (Indiana) into the Temple of Doom in search of the chalice of the Holy Grail. As he steps over the remains of the many that have gone before him; he yet forces himself forward gingerly, sensing that danger is imminent.
None too soon, Indiana gains a clear understanding of the importance of the phrase “the penitent man is humble…” – bringing him urgently to his knees in the nick of time to avoid decapitation!
As he continues on, his father’s words remind him to follow “only in the footsteps of God!” His next step nearly does him in, but he climbs back up to solid ground and realizes that following in the path of Jehovah requires him to seek out stepping stones beginning with the letter “I” (reflecting the Latin spelling the Jewish name for God).
And next, his notes prompt him to recall that “the leap from the Lion’s head will prove his worth” as he faces a bottomless chasm with no apparent way to cross. Clearly there is no way over; and the only way out seems to be backwards.
Fear, ambiguity, improbability and near certain death are his only companions. Indeed, this is a Temple of Doom!
But the pain that his father is enduring and the opportunity and healing powers represented by the Holy Grail oblige Indiana to face down his fear and take a step out onto the unknown – into thin air. Somehow his journey thus far gave him the courage to move into that abyss.
Suddenly, miraculously, without sound, warning or explanation, a narrow bridge across is manifest. After a pause of wonder, and while still unsteady, Indiana took additional strides which became more sure only as he became confident that he was on a sturdy path.
I retell this story after watching the 1984 movie for the 23rd time recently, and after being inspired by (and borrowing liberally from) a book written by Kirbyjon Caldwell in 2000 entitled The Gospel of Good Success. Rev. Caldwell, and before him the writers of the movie, Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz and George Lucas, seeks to remind us about the sometimes mystical and fantastical, often surprising and life-changing power of faith.
How many of us have faced our own Temples of Doom?
- Laid off… but where will the next check come from?
- Need to have surgery… Will insurance cover it?
- LSAT scores weren’t what we’d hoped… Will I get into school?
- Contract fell through… Can I make the mortgage payment?
- I really believe that I’m supposed to start this business… but I’m running out of cash!
How do I take the next step without it being my last? How do I cross this chasm to get to the other side? Situations like this are scary!
Retreat, or going backwards, may seem to be the best option. But Indiana seemed to have faith – to believe in miracles. Do you?
Don’t answer that yet. Let’s look back at what we’ve gotten from the film so far. If I’m taking counsel from this movie, then I guess I’d –
1. Ask myself what I believe,
2. Fall to my knees and pray,
3. Order my steps along the path that Iehovah would ordain, and then
4. Take a big, scary step out onto the unknown in faith.
But before we get to step 4, maybe there are a few other things to keep in mind.
#1. Indiana was motivated! In this case, his daddy had just been shot. He was in the middle of a dessert with no hospitals nearby and, while there were lots of folks standing around, none of them were willing to help. Indiana had a problem, and he had no choice but to solve it himself.
#2. Indiana had been trained. The Indiana Jones character is a tenured professor of archaeology who also studied linguistics and earned degrees from the University of Chicago and the Sorbonne in Paris. In addition to that, his father is a professor of medieval literature who earned his degree from the University of Oxford and had undoubtedly taught his son a thing or two that serves him well. Indiana’s training made a big difference in his ability to succeed.
#3. Indiana had experience. Remember that the Temple of Doom (set in 1935) was actually the prequel to the first to be released Raiders of the Lost Ark (set in 1936). However, in addition to his formal training, young Indiana Jones (The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles) spent his adolescent years in the early 1900’s interacting with historical figures as he accompanied his father on a worldwide lecture tour. So by the time we meet Indy for the first time in Raiders, his worn leather jacket, dusty fedora and trusty bull-whip were already legend. Experience counts.
#4. Indiana lost more often than he won. As in our own lives, that can be tough to see. But you don’t even have to watch the whole movie to realize that before he was able to put his hands on the chalice he’d had a tough time. Indiana was beaten up, shot at, double crossed, thrown from vehicles, lost friends, been hurt, gotten tired, been brainwashed and threatened to quit more than once.
But in the end, our hero emerges victorious! A little motivation, a lot of training, some old fashioned experience, a measure of perseverance and a big step out on faith make all the difference.
I think that someone got the title of the movie wrong. The Temple of Doom wasn’t a temple of doom after all, now was it?
It’s time to ask yourself what YOU believe! Dreaming is easy. But it takes a lot more experience and a measure of faith to #XEQTE.