We All Need A Reason To Jump

​Elliott and I went to see the movie "Project Hail Mary" Sunday. I will issue a spoiler alert for the following article, but I don't think what I'll write could spoil the experience of this movie. To me it's spoil-proof.

The main character in the movie, Grayson, is forced into an act of heroism. He is forced to sacrifice. He's forced because on his own he wasn't about to choose sacrifice or heroism.

One of the characters in his life explained this by saying it's difficult to sacrifice when you have no one in your life to sacrifice for.

It's true. Grayson came across as a bit of a loner. Because of this, I related to him in many ways. Although, I have sons, so I do know what it's like to have something I'd be willing to make ultimate sacrifices for.

But in the midst of Grayson's forced sacrifice, he meets a friend. A most unexpected alien friend, but a friend nonetheless. And in the midst of this new friendship, Grayson is presented another chance to choose sacrifice.

And this time he seizes the chance.

In reflecting on this movie, it's occurred to me that we often hesitate to take leaps in life not because we are afraid to leap, but because we don't have a good reason to leap. When we live life alone - disconnected - life becomes about self-preservation and not about taking risks.

This idea of a "Hail Mary" - a prayer - one last long throw downfield hoping for a miracle catch - well, hope intensifies when you actually know there will be someone downfield trying to make the catch.

If there's no one downfield, who even begins to throw the Hail Mary pass?

I don't know that we take enough chances for one another these days. A lot of us are acting in self-preservation. We see too many of the people around us as aliens.

I wonder if good things happen when we open ourselves up to the possibility that aliens can be our friends.

Can good things happen when we find our reason to start taking more chances; start making more sacrifices.

I know it sounds like a Hail Mary. But I've seen many Hail Marys answered.