What I learned about God watching the Lego MovieAndy Freeman - 28 Feb 2014

During the last week I went to see the Lego Movie with my kids. I was quite expectant as this was to be more than your average cartoon - this was Lego coming alive - and according to many film critics, one of the best animated films made in recent years. 

The prospect of a live Lego Batman alone was enough to get me excited. 

And I was not disappointed. 

But as I laughed with the kids I found myself thinking of some deeper things. 

This often happens to me at the movies - there is something profound for me in that space, sparked by the imagination I’m seeing on screen. Who would have thought Lego Superman, Lego Dumbledore and Lego Abraham Lincoln would give me such food for thought?

The wider theme of the Movie is play and creativity. A battle between conformity and creativity, between instruction and flow. 

Picasso was once asked the secret of his vivid and exciting paintings. He replied in this extraordinary way:

Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not.

Whenever I hear this quote it makes me think of children. When you go play with kids everything is possible - everything is permissible. Dinosaurs can interact with Pirates, Vikings can make alliances with aliens and fictional wizards can converse with former American Presidents. 

As my kids have grown up I’ve learnt new things about curiosity, about colour, about freedom and about life. I’m very grateful to each of my kids for that...

Jesus suggested that we would need to enter the Kingdom of God like a child (Matthew 18:3). 

I know a lot of people react badly to this; why shouldn’t we be adult, be mature? What is it about God that he needs us to be young? 

But I think these arguments miss the point.

The more I explore my faith the more I know that God wants me to smile and enjoy life as well as be serious and reverent and all those other things that religious people have told us are very important.

Play and creativity…a way to God?

In 2005 I wrote a book called Punk Monk about the story and values of 24-7 Boiler Rooms. In one of the closing chapters I wrote about the Boiler Room value of Creativity and suggested a few ideas and a liturgy to explore in our own lives. 

I had a fresh look at them after the Lego Movie and had some ideas that you might find helpful…

Creative Retreat

Spend a week on your own creative retreat. This can be done in your normal pattern of life, but it involves moving wholeheartedly into being creative.

Discipline yourself to being creative in the way you respond to the Bible. Write poems and draw pictures rather than write notes. Take your friends to see a film and go for a coffee to discuss it afterwards. Go for a walk. Cook creatively. Dress creatively. Think creatively when problems arise. 

From what you learn on your ‘retreat’, begin to build creative disciplines into your life.  

You might also like to take a look at this Creation liturgy on our Ancient Paths pages.