How to Share Your Faith Using Flushed Away
The sewers of London serve as the backdrop for the new computer-animated comedy, Flushed Away. Brought to you by Dreamworks, the company that created the highly successful animated Shrek movies, Flushed Away's imaginary world overflows with biting humor and witty one-liners. The plot follows the adventures of pampered pet mouse Roddy St. James as he receives a rude awakening and is flushed away during his attempt to trick Sid the sewer rat into the 'whirlpool' (toilet).
In Roddy's efforts to escape from the dangerous underground sewer world - including the villainous Toad (Ian McKellen), his evil cohorts, and his treacherous plans - Roddy forms a friendship with Rita (Kate Winslet). As often happens in life, Roddy and Rita both find they need each others help when the problems of life come crashing in. Underneath the witty (and sometimes coarse) humor of this movie, lies a story of reaching out, trusting and helping others when the problems that swirl seem overwhelming.
Flushed Away's producer describes Roddy and Rita's friendship this way:
"More than anything else, Rita wants to help her family. But she needs to learn that she can't do that alone. When she opens herself up to accepting Roddy's help, anything is possible. And Roddy's journey is universal. You can have all the toys in the world, but they're not worth much if you have no one to share them with. At the end of the day, we all need friends and families to connect, even the finest possessions pale in comparison to our relationships with others."
Just like Roddy and Rita, we all need to connect with others in relationship. God designed us to long for relationship - with other people and with Him. At the very bedrock of our being we have a hole in our soul that can only be filled by being in a relationship with God. Your friends, whether they act like it or not and whether they realize it or not, need to be in relationship with the God that designed them and loves them. Col. 1:20-22 puts it like this:
...all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe--people and things, animals and atoms--get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the Cross. You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God's side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. (The Message)
So as you find yourself in conversations about Flushed Away look for chances to turn the talk toward friendships and how everyone needs relationship with others, including a relationship with God. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Ask your friends if they'd rather be pampered and live a lavish lifestyle alone or be scraping by with a little while surrounded by strong friendships and why.
- We live in a society with all the 'toys' in the world, and yet we are still dealing with high levels of depression and suicide. Ask your friends why they think that is, and if perhaps we were made for something else - like a personal and permanent relationship with our Creator.
- Everyone needs help sometimes. Talk with your friends about whether it is difficult or easy to accept help from others. Where do your friends turn for help? Ask them if they believe God wants to be in relationship with people, or if they view God as distant and uninvolved. Explain what the Bible has to say about this and what you believe about how God extends his help to us through Jesus' forgiveness of our sins. For help with this, check out the GOSPEL Journey.
- What do you do when friends let you down? Share where you turn when human relationships disappoint you. Use this as a chance to talk about how your relationship with Jesus is the ultimate relationship that helps you through the tough stuff - even when your friends let you down.
Connect with your friends on a deeper level by bringing God up in your conversations. Cuz when the tough stuff comes into our lives, it's our relationship with God that will help carry us through this life and beyond!
