What Pirates of the Caribbean Taught Me About Spiritual Hunger and the Only Thing That Actually Satisfies
I’ve been wanting to write more. I have been feeling compelled to share what has been on my mind. I like seeing meaning and purpose in the stories we tell. Be it in a fairytale book, film or the Holy Scriptures, or anything. Not that whoever you are as a reader is inherently beholden to care about what I want…I’m fully aware that you need a take away for you, or you just aren’t invested. Hang in there, value is coming.
Ok, so the wordy attempt at a cute introduction is officially out of the way. Fingers crossed my sense of self-deprecation is charming and not pitiful. On to the topic of which I am writing: The Pirates of the Caribbean. Yes, I would love to suddenly have Jack Sparrow’s theme song just burst forth off this page right now. If you are like most of us American millennials it’s already playing through your head. You are welcome. As we know, this saga is filled with swashbuckling adventure, romance, tangled plot lines, rich and even legendary characters, not to mention catchy songs and extremely quotable moments (I will never say “leverage” the same way after that 2003 beauty of a film). It also has outstanding imagery. That green apple, though! Can you see the scene in your mind? After an epic duel between Captain Jack Sparrow and the cursed Barbossa (you know, the one that could have lasted until the very trumpets sound for Christ’s return). Sparrow was clever enough to outdo his old companion and kill him. The most tragic moment of this first film is revealed as a green apple rolls away from the dying man. After sailing the seas for years looking to satiate his hunger, slake his lust, fill his stomach and his heart…it came down to the pirate just wanting to taste an apple again. He didn’t get his chance. (And yes, we are pretending the franchise didn’t bring him back later on).
Who else has ever felt that unquenchable thirst for more? Am I the only one with my hand raised and waving chaotically in the air? There was a very down to earth and God-fearing man who wrote, “…the greatest calamity for a human soul: to be made in the image of God, with a spirit so big that it can contain the universe, and yet cry for more.” Yes, that was A. W. Tozer. As we are made in God’s image there is a component to our humanity that is meant for eternity. We sense it, we long for it. When we spend our time chasing down the desires of our flesh, we are feeding into the curse. Yes, THE curse. Not the invented curse of the Black Pearl, but the one handed down from Adam and Eve. That nasty sin nature captivates us when we let it. When we steal that cursed treasure with every decision made in the flesh–leaving ourselves empty. Only eternity can fill the void. This insatiable ache is only satisfied by God Himself. There’s a plethora of Scripture verses to back this up, of course. Just google it. However, one of the ones I like is from Psalm 107:9, “For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things.” Talk about a breath of fresh air!
Fruit is often used in storytelling to communicate this tension between doing things God’s way, or with integrity versus compromising ourselves in our own wisdom, strength or befuddled definition of morality. The Magician’s Nephew comes to mind when Diggory made the harrowing journey to retrieve the fruit from the sacred tree that would heal his mother. If he followed the wicked queen’s shortcut, her temptation, the fruit would be soiled. It was only by obedience to Aslan that Diggory was able to save his mother.
I don’t really know about you, but my heart is failing me. I’m not too proud to admit it. This woman is not enough to stand strong in the midst of this chaotic, discouraging world. And this time I’m not being charmingly self-deprecating…I know I am not enough. Neither is anything in this world enough to give me satisfaction, peace, rest, strength, joy etc. It is only God who can do so. If I look any other way, “ever shall I wanteth.” So I end these musings with this: what are you chasing that is getting in the way of eating that completely and perfectly satisfying green apple?
References and Inspirations
Lewis, C S. The Magician’s Nephew. London Collins, 2 May 1955.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003 film)
Tozer, A W, and David Fessenden. The Attributes of God Volume 1 a Journey into the Father’s Heart. Chicago Moody Publishers, 2007.