Faithspotting "F1 The Movie"
Mike and Kenny review the Summer action blockbuster F1: The Movie starring Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Damson Idris, and Kerry Condon and directed by Joseph Kosinski. Pitt stars as race car driver Sonny Hayes, who is invited to join an F1 team despite a 30 year absence from the F1 circuit following a traumatic crash. The team's owner, Ruben Cervantes (Bardem) drove with Hayes when he was a rookie and is desperate for his team to show success or else he will lose it. Part of Hayes's impact on the team needs to be mentoring the team's rookie sensation but yet to be successful driver, Joshua Pearce (Idris.) Produced by Jerry Bruckeimer and Apple Studios, F1 The Movie included scenes shot during F1 on location at several Grand Prixs, the British, Italian, Las Vegas, Japan and Abu Dhabi.
Faith Spotted:
The place and necessity of Community: I Corinthians 12, the Body of Christ consists of many parts, all of which are vital and dependent on one another. Such dependency requires trust and faith in each other. As Christ had total faith in God, discisples of Jesus must also have faith in the God's redemptive power and in the new life promised in Christ. This is reflected in F1 in all the members of the team, from the owner, drivers, and all crew members. Without everyone working together the team fails.
Living in Community requires Humility. As Paul teaches in Philippians 2 all persons of faith are called to imitate the humility of Christ. As Jesus did not use his position as God to gain attention, power, and to be served, but rather to serve God and others, discipleship of Christ calls for persons to be humble and use talents and other blessings of God in the service of God and others. Hayes, Pearce, and others in the film are challenged to reign in their ego's and desires for personal fame and glory in order for the team to win and all to be successful.
Over coming Adversity, Failure and Fear: Faith in God's love, grace, and the promise of new life, allows us the freedom to struggle against adversity and the fear of failure. The teaching and life example of Jesus calls us to live out of faith rather than in the midst fear because God cherishes all people for who they are, God's children, not for what they accomplish.
Calling, Purpose, and Passion: Sonny Hayes was born to race. It doesn't matter if he was racing in the glamorous world of the F1 circuit or isolated Baja races. In contrast Joshua Pearce saw racing as a means to an end, glory, wealth, popularity. Pursuing his purpose and passion rather than the perks of success enabled Hayes to find joy in all circumstances. Children of God are called to discover their purpose and use the gifts and blessings that God offers that drive that purpose.
