Pinocchio

            Last night, Amanda, the kids, and I went to Knoxville to watch Disney on Ice. For all you men out there who don’t enjoy this kind of “childish tomfoolery,” I was right there with you. But for all you dads out there, you know that sometimes you have to put your “man” feelings aside and really – man up – and do things like this. And you may not realize it at the time but the dividends far exceed your expectations. I tweeted something to this effect from the arena, “Floor seats at Disney on Ice, two absolutely excited kids, one wife reliving childhood dreams … priceless!”

            It was a magical night, no doubt. Mickey and Minnie were there as were most of the top characters of the greatest Disney classics: Goofy, Donald, Buzz Lightyear, Belle and the Beast, Nemo and Bruce, and so many more. It was a great time. There were even some classics from when I grew up. One in particular has really come back to mind throughout the day today: Pinocchio. Pinocchio was Walt Disney’s second full-length animated feature. It was based on the story by Carlo Collodi (1800s).

            I’m not going to spoil the story for you by giving you a summary or review of it. All I want to say is that it’s a classic for a reason and if you haven’t watched it then rent, buy it, whatever … just watch it.

            What I will say about it stems from Disney on Ice. I had forgotten one of the things that Jiminy Cricket said numerous times, “Let your conscience guide you” or “Let your conscience be your guide.” That sounds all well and good but … what if you have a bad conscience or no conscience at all? I realize that’s the point of the story to a greater degree and my hope is that in its original form (as I’ve never read it) it is innocent in its purity.

            But Malcolm Rios is human like everyone else. I have exposed and been exposed to sin. As I thought on what Jiminy Cricket said, I couldn’t help but think that his statement wasn’t the best way to convey the purity of his words. When I think of those words, my thoughts go immediately to the Word of God.

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” – Philippians 2:1-11

            Man, oh man, there but for the grace of God go I. And I don’t care if you don’t have the same faith as me … having the mind of Christ is a win-win all the way around. Even if you choose to spit in the face of God and deny him, no one can honestly say that humility and love are not good ways to live.