I’m a fan of many Disney animated movies, definitely some more than others. A running theme with popular ones is a character’s feeling of not belonging and/or a desire to seek something or somewhere that will complete them. Then they have a lot of life adventures in a short time and the journey, more than the destination, helped them know who they were and what they really wanted all along. When these characters sing about how they wish they could go somewhere and achieve something, I’m right there with them. Even in non-Disney or movie related songs, like Place in This World by Michael W Smith, I see that I’m not the only one wanting to find who and where I’m supposed to be and what’s next.
As Christians, this world is not our home and we long for our eternal glorious heavenly home (“If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John‬ ‭15‬:‭19; “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himsel‭‭f.” Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬). In the meantime, because we have been promised a future home (John 14:1-4), we anxiously await Jesus’ return and want to see what’s on the other side. As we are also supposed to be different than the world around us (Romans 12:2), we may feel out of place and want to just fit in. However, we are called to be different from the world for a purpose (Matthew 5:13-16). You may not realize it, but God put you where you are right now for this time for a purpose when he could have put you anywhere and in any time in history. Keep the journey going as that’s where you’ll really grow. Continue to try to find the place you temporarily belong while awaiting your eternal home where you’ll never need to wonder or wander.

So what about Disney characters (or the writers to be more accurate), do they have the inside scoop on the plight of man and his desire to strive for a seemingly unreachable goal? As it turns out, the heart of man knows things aren’t right and wants to fix them as the law of God is written on their hearts (“For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” Romans‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭16‬). They have part of the story that relates to all people. It goes back to the beginning of mankind- when Adam and Eve sinned, one of the first things they did was try to find their own way to fix something broken (Genesis 3). But as man is sinful, his ways end in destruction. He takes parts of truth and then mixes in his own desires and understanding. They don’t have the fairytale ending ahead of them that happens on the screen. There isn’t some piece of magic at the end of the journey that puts everything right just in time.

That’s why it’s so important for those of us who know the true story – all people are born sinners and need a savior from eternal destruction and there is only one savior, named Jesus, who loved people so much, he sacrificed himself for them, even the ones who won’t accept the salvation freely offered – to share it with all those trying to write their own story and be their own savior. While we long for the end of the road and who we will be one day, we must not forget those around us, wandering in the dark and waiting for the Light (Acts 26:18).