Who You Truly Are

If you have ears, chances are you've heard of Moana. If you have children, chances are you've seen Moana. And if your kids are like mine, chances are you can quote Moana, but you get the picture. It's a motion picture smash hit, full of splendid color, wonder, and imagination. It's a typical Disney movie where the main character and her sidekick, team up with another unlikely character to bring humor to the audience, while saving the people of her island from despair. But the first time I actually sat and watched the movie in it's entirety (versus just listening to it in the minivan), I found myself in tears at the precious imagery of my Savior. Disney doesn't realize what they've done, but I'll let you in on my secrets.

Unfortunately, there isn't a way to really explain what my heart feels compelled to write without spoiling the ending to the movie. So, if you've never seen it and are going to be mad at me for this, stop reading now! Otherwise, grab your oars and lets set sail, across the ocean, beyond the reef. The story begins with Moana, the only child of her mother and father, who happens to be the chief of the island of Te Fiti. Being the heir of her father's throne, Moana battles an internal conflict between who others want her to be, and who she knows she's called to be. "The ocean chose you," her grandmother tells her. Even as a tot, Moana can't help but gravitate towards the forbidden ocean from which her father strives to protect her. Insert sassy Gramma Tala, her Grandmother who encourages her to follow her true calling, and we have a rebellious story of nature vs nurture, quite literally. Gramma Tala becomes ill, and on her death bed, pushes Moana once more to find out who she really is. Unable to say no this time, Moana musters up every ounce of strength and courage she has and go where she was trained her whole life not to venture, beyond the reef. With the new spirit of Gramma Tala by her side, she sets sail farther than she's ever been before and meets a few characters along the way. A tatted up foe turned friend named Maui, a massive boat full of crazies who have clearly gone coconuts, a shiny crab trying to eat everyone and hoard their goodies to himself, and lastly: Ta Ka. A thousand year old monster of fire and death, controlling the fate of every voyager attempting restoration.

I've found myself scaling furniture in order to see the TV during this particular scene of the movie. It's one of the very last scenes when Moana has just about seen and done it all at this point. She's defeated the ocean, she's remained safe, and she's, figuratively speaking, gotten a new pair of wings. She climbs to the top of a now unnamed island and grips the heart of Te Fiti in her grasp. Fist clinched, she looks to Maui for one last distraction. In attempt to regain attention, Maui begins chanting and sacrificing himself in order for Moana to successfully complete her mission and restore the heart of Te Fiti- if only she could locate it. Moana concludes that the heart is meant to rest in the chest of Ta Ka, amidst the spiral on her chest. She holds up the green gem, the heart of Te Fiti, and immediately gains the attention and fury of Ta Ka. "Let her come to me." The ocean parts way; a biblical reminder of when Moses held up his staff and God parted the seas for the Israelite army to safely cross the waters. Confidently and without any mental reservation, Moana steps towards a raging Ta Ka, full of fire and fury, to finish the job she'd bravely begun. With full anger, Ta Ka takes her chance to completely destroy Moana with ease, by being able to safely cross the ocean floor without touching the water and harming herself. With every fiery step, and tempered roar of aggravation, sand burning and being tossed from beneath her hands and feet, Ta Ka travels to Moana, completely unshaken and confident in who she is.

"I have crossed the horizon to find you."

She keeps coming. Fury. Incensed and enraged, still unable to remember who she is.

"I know your name."

Comes closer, with each stride, gaining confidence in her plan of execution.

"They may have stolen the heart from inside you... but this does not define you."

She's now reached the point where Moana is within arms distance and her fate is fair game. Black smoke encroaches upon the rock which Moana stands upon, swallows her up and then clears, making direct eye contact with a still upstanding Moana.

"This is not who you are. You know who you are."

Silence. Complete and utter silence, with a realization of truth for Ta Ka that's just been spoken over her. They touch foreheads in what I pivotally describe as the most fleeting and surrendering scene in Disney history.

Moana whispers, ".... who you truly are."

Moana places the green gem, the heart of Te Fiti, in the center of the spiral upon her chest. The crevices of debris are given a green light now flowing about, breathing life back into the figure of Te Fiti. Immediately, the ashes begin to fall, and beauty comes from within. Lustrous and fruitful, full of life and radiance. With every crumb of rock that falls, Te Fiti emerges back to her former glory, finally standing upright again after being hunched over for a thousand years.

.. and then Jesus speaks to your heart. "Let her come to me."

The oceans part way, revealing a clear path for you to travel back to Jesus. Back to who you used to be. Back to before depression had your heart. Before anxiety made you lash out at those you love. Before fear overturned your life, uprooting you from every strand of biblical knowledge you obtain. Back to who you really are.

"I have crossed the horizon to find you."

He reminds you of John 10:10, "the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that you may have life, and have it abundantly (to the full). God speaks to you with love and with a gentle reminder that He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross for your sins (John 3:16). For your wrongdoings. For the thoughts that encroach in the middle of the night. For the addiction. For the lust. For the affair. For the ill-temperament. For the way you treat those who love you the most. And, over your heart, He speaks: (Your name) _______, I have traded life, and I have given everything I own, to have a relationship with you. I have crossed the horizon to find you." Yet, even still, you fight back. There's not way I'm worthy of that.

"I know your name."

He claims over your life the following: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine." We are HIS. He has claimed us. He has given everything He has. He laid down His life... for me! While nailed to my cross and bearing the burdened weight of my sins, he thought of my name, and saw my face.

"They may have stolen the heart from inside you... but this does not define you."

There comes a time when these things that you think own you, the shame that surrounds you, the depression that cripples you, has to face the God that created you. They have to answer to the God who laid down His everything.. for you. And because of Him, you have the opportunity to stand faultless before the throne. The smoke clears, the dust settles, and he makes eye contact with you, speaking directly in your heart: These things of the earth don't own you. Your temper doesn't own you. Your medicinal management doesn't define you, and your past decisions and sins don't define you. You are a child of the One, True King. Repent and turn away from those actions, returning to me.

"This is not who you are. You know who you are."

Silence. Complete and utter silence, with a realization of truth for ______ that's just been spoken over her. They touch foreheads in what I describe as the most pivotal and surrendering scene in your history.

Jesus whispers softly to His child, ".... who you truly are."

With salvation, God places His Son into the heart of His precious child. The crevices of debris are given new blood flowing about, breathing life back into the figure of ______. Immediately, the ashes begin to fall, and beauty comes from within. Lustrous and fruitful, full of life and radiance. With every crumb of rock that falls, ______ emerges back to her former glory, finally standing upright again after being crippled by her very own demons for far too long.

Remember your identity,