Response: Have to remember that Cipher (Lu-cifer) gets deceived, whines about everything, is frustrated because he can't have Trinity's returned affection, betrays and tries to destroy Neo, and in the end get burned up by "fire" - the Wachowski brothers play with the details most creatively, and have done a great job of telling their take on the Christian story and person and mission of Jesus Christ (Neo is called "My saviour...my personal Jesus Christ" in about the 7th scene).
Certainty and self-judgement are tough issues. One of the saddest things I come across is someone, in increasing years, who is completely messed up by their past failures, poor decisions and regrets (Cifer). I think John Wesley was one of the few Christian leaders who got really bent over the issue of certainty (as well as his disciples I'm sure - Edwards has a much more biblical approach to the issue). Morpheus, not the Merovingian, was correct: it starts with choice (first God's, then ours) - that's why our choices haunt us, but the truth can set us free - to forgive, be forgiven, and move on. Living with the feeling of a clean conscience, not certainty, not only brings enjoyment and a type of satisfaction, but an ability to taste the good in just about everything and everyone. Peace with God is the key that opens the door to the undiscovered country. After losing four babies with Sarah, my life was changed when God asked me, "Is our relationship going to be based on me answering or not answering your questions?" Not unlike His response to Job's grief and consequent whining. Grief is normal and reasonable - the simple recognition of things not being as they should be in a perfect world (our innate knowledge of good and evil kicking in). That is entirely different from a life filled with blame (of ourselves and others) and regret (Cipher's experience of life), which is misery - we can only imagine what hell will be like.
Certainty and self-judgement are tough issues. One of the saddest things I come across is someone, in increasing years, who is completely messed up by their past failures, poor decisions and regrets (Cifer). I think John Wesley was one of the few Christian leaders who got really bent over the issue of certainty (as well as his disciples I'm sure - Edwards has a much more biblical approach to the issue). Morpheus, not the Merovingian, was correct: it starts with choice (first God's, then ours) - that's why our choices haunt us, but the truth can set us free - to forgive, be forgiven, and move on. Living with the feeling of a clean conscience, not certainty, not only brings enjoyment and a type of satisfaction, but an ability to taste the good in just about everything and everyone. Peace with God is the key that opens the door to the undiscovered country. After losing four babies with Sarah, my life was changed when God asked me, "Is our relationship going to be based on me answering or not answering your questions?" Not unlike His response to Job's grief and consequent whining. Grief is normal and reasonable - the simple recognition of things not being as they should be in a perfect world (our innate knowledge of good and evil kicking in). That is entirely different from a life filled with blame (of ourselves and others) and regret (Cipher's experience of life), which is misery - we can only imagine what hell will be like.
Though 100% certainty is not the pay-off (perhaps just a false and elusive carrot/dream of Modernity), there is a tangible, aesthetical sweetness, or a "sense of being in the sweet-spot of living out our destiny", which can still be recognised, even vaguely, while in the darkest nights, foggiest-of-life-situations, places of deepest self-doubt - or hanging on a cross. There is never any going back, like Cipher hopes - the past (was an illusion in the sense of the Matrix) and is the same as the present and future - it only changes due to our changing emotions, behaviours, and perspectives. But despite the horror of the breaking news of personal, world-view loss, let alone the threat of a full collapse of "everything good and green", once Frodo (Lord of the Rings) knew the real meaning of the ring, he sensed there was only one thing to do - the greater good, amidst all the dangers and distractions, temptations, false-friendships, and the growing knowledge that his destiny would take his life along with his hope for peace, family and safety. But Frodo wishes the ring, and his personal responsibility, had never come to him. We are all little soldiers, uncertain of the biggest picture, but still having the choice to take the next step forward.
The more life-altering, self-shattering experiences we have, the clearer and more complex the big picture becomes, and subsequently the greater chance of peace (with God and life's circumstances), and the regular experience of joy through the simple things. Perspective comes with the surprising recognition of hidden goodness. If life is a paint-by-number picture that we all must paint, taking time to paint with the bright, living colours helps make sense of the dark shadows we have already got on our canvas. Regardless of the brush and colours of paint we are currently using, I have come to acknowledge it is still a good and beautiful piece of art we are working on. There is so much more light than darkness in this world. I take this by faith, not blind or unsubstantiated faith, but something both reasonable and experiential, if not fully describable. I love Aragorn's question to Gandalf, when the status of the whole mission (and Middle Earth) are in jeopardy because Frodo and Sam are moving forward unescorted by the fellowship..."What does your heart tell you?" Morpheus says that the reality of the Matrix has to be experienced to be understood... leaving slavery and embracing destiny and providence is an act of belief. All comes through perseverance and an eye towards the horizon and things to come in our 'now, but not yet' world.
The question that lingers for me is why is a pod racer's win not worth the life of TWO slaves? Seriously. But it wasn't, and Anakin (Star Wars) takes the path of judgement and revenge, not of humility, mercy and forgiveness, and starts down the slippery slope until his self-deception is complete, his paint-by-number is patent leather black... that is until Luke, seeing that there was still some good in him (like the image of God in all of us) offers him love, forgiveness, and a choice to do the right and good thing - which Vader embraces! If Cipher only had second thoughts and a desire to help his friends, and act for the good of all instead of selfishly (if Nietzsche had only seen strength and virtue in self-sacrifice, meekness and humility)... if Satan would only come to his senses, give up on his petty jealously and power-tripping, and embrace again his Creator.
So, after taking the (red) enlightenment pill, what does your heart tell you?
So, after taking the (red) enlightenment pill, what does your heart tell you?
In the past few years, as my body ages and my lifestyle becomes more filled will the care of people, especially our three young children, I get to see fewer and fewer jaw-dropping, panaramic views from mountian tops. And gone now is my adrenaline-driven teens and twenties. But I'm learning that this same sense of overwelming joy and amazement doesn't just come with excessive speed, or on a court, or take five hours to get to. I'm now finding it more easily and daily when I take time to appreciate what I've been given, in the tasting of the deeper meaning, and in feeling that sudden rush of freedom, peace, and contentment that comes only in trusting, safe relationships. And I'm experiencing that sense of wonder and amazement when I allow myself the realization that I have finally found that long saught-after sweet-spot of living out my destiny.