Into the Wild

I finally saw the movie Into the Wild a few weeks ago . . . it's been on my list for months, but I kept putting it off because part of me really wanted to read the book first. Now having seen the movie, I will definitely be reading the book! (And since I hate it when someone ruins a book or movie for me, I'll give a spoiler alert now: if you don't know the story of Into the Wild and Chris McCandless, stop reading now! Read the book or watch the movie first!)

I thought the film was incredibly well-written and well-acted. And the cinematography is amazing in the truest since of the word...the U.S. truly has some breathtakingly beautiful places and I was reminded of how Eastern-bound my travels have been! I was quickly drawn into Chris' road-tripping/hitchiking adventure. . . and I've been thinking about why that was my response. It was more than just the natural beauty of the places he saw that I found fascinating. I think a large part of it is that Chris actually did what many of us wish we had or could: taking a "time-out" from the constructs of our culture (materialism, success, taking the next responsible/expected step, technology, etc.) in order to actively pursue further understanding of who we are, why we're here, and what meaning in life should really be about. While I don't foresee being able to spend several years doing what Chris did (!), I was reminded of how important it is to build time into the rhythm of my life in which I can be reminded of and challenged by these foundational questions and the answers God has for them.

There is much from Chris' journalling that I found compelling - but I think the one concept that stuck with me most was his progression of thought regarding relationships. At one point in the earlier stages of his journey, Chris said, "You don't need human relationships to be happy, God has placed it all around us." I think there's validity to this in the sense that God has given us many means of grace and happiness - nature, the abilities to think/learn/move/etc. However, I wanted to jump into the story and tell Chris: "But you're missing out if you think relationship isn't a necessity in life!" Thankfully, people entered Chris' life as time went on who essentially lived that out before him and challenged his perception. Toward the end of his time in Alaska, Chris wrote these words: "Happiness only real when shared." What a great illustration of the reality of how God created us . . . the need for relationship is part of our DNA, part of our very nature as image-bearers of the ever-relating Trinity. And so it was bittersweet to see Chris come to that realization, make plans to enter back into society, and then encounter events that prevented that desire from becoming reality.

So...two thumbs way up for this film and I hope to read the book soon!

(An FYI in closing: Jon Krakauer initially wrote about Chris' story in a magazine article entitled "Death of an Innocent" several months after Chris was found - here's the link:
http://outside.away.com/outside/features/1993/1993_into_the_wild_1.html Krakauer published Into the Wild in 1996.)