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Terminators meet us in the present to change the future

Posted by tom | Jan 15, 2008

I'm still processing my thoughts regarding Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles, see a piece below which drifts from an assessment into some reflections which have been brewing inside me as approach my 34th birthday on January 17th.  Would love to know your reactions to Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles (that might include why it's of no interest to you at all). 

I confess to watching the 2-part season opening and being shocked at how different I am from when I sat on the edge of my seat watching the original and the sequel. Back in the day, I received quite a high school high when watching T-2 in the theatre, but when T-3 came along I lacked the interest. I just said No to Arnold Schwarzenegger (in what I believe was his last box office endeavor before moving to governor of California).

But as one born and raised for Doctor Who's (I mean Tom Baker's) TARDIS, I thought I would test Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles to see how they messed with time travel. What initially attracted me to the Terminator concept was not just the war between the intelligent technology just around the corner and human beings, but the slim possibility of beings from the future coming to the present, i.e., their past, to change their present which is our future.

The future is not set, there is no fate but what we make for ourselves.

As with all technological possibilities/dreams, time travel is a tool to be considered/used/treated with great care. Note: the advantage of a humble, at times bumbling, Time Lord preventing various villians from expanding their local and/or galactic rule seems obvious ;-) But one may find this depends on perspective.  Doctor Who faced trial/ostracization (and who shouldn't considering how he altered timelines and periodically lost control of the TARDIS to evil doers). Enough on the Doctor Who tangent for now.

As the Terminator series continued to develop, not only do we find more advanced Terminators (and greater ability to portray them and their violence), but also more traveling across time/space. We no longer find missions of last resort (for machines and/or humans), but a steady stream of preparing/changing the future via the past. Similar to the galaxy far, far away, at one time I had dreams of being caught up in such a mission and being willing to die in a heroic manner. But is that what wakes me up in the morning today? No.

What happened in my storyline gap? Did I just grow-up and accept the American Dream or a cynical recasting of the American Dream?  No, I encountered the One who truly breaks into time and space OR should I say the One who is always present in time and space for those who have received/accepted the gift of sight?

When asked about why I do what I do, I can give all kind of human rationalizations, but at it's heart I have a call from God. I am not a Messiah for Higher Education or anyone else for that matter, but I follow one who Transforms Students and Faculty, Renews Campuses, and Develops World Changers. This is not some myth from the past which needs to be remythologized for the present post-modern age or some crazy utopian vision which will never be consummated, but instead the resident reality which encompasses all of time and space given specific incarnation in the Creation in which we live, the Word of God to the Prophets/Priests/Kings, and the Person, Work, Death, Resurrection, Ascension of our Lord Jesus the Christ . . . the one who truly said I'll be back in a manner and toward an end for which we can truly long. 

So to all the obsessed fan sites concerned about the plot issues, I'm happy I live in a drama which is not only much bigger than what can be delivered to us by Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles, Star Wars (how about the issue of making films which fit in particular timeline with particular results) or even Doctor Who (some-one help me chart a complete time line of the various incarnations and their various travels/encounters) BUT ALSO for each one of us where we have been placed in the here and now.  As we wait for the physical return of Jesus our Lord, let's open ourselves to the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the people of God as we are about his Kingdom building mission.  Let us be God's blessing to the present and the future, even all eternity. 

PS.  More thoughts coming, but that's enough for now.  Waiting to hear from you ;-)

Reflections on drawing closer to Christ | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)

2 Comments & 0 Trackbacks of "Terminators meet us in the present to change the future"

    Tom, I agree with your lack of interested in T-3 - I still haven't seen it. As I watch the previews for the Sarah Connor Chronicles, I just keep wondering how this guy - John Connor - is supposed to be the savior of mankind when he's constantly protected by superhuman robot babysitters. I felt similarly at the end of The Matrix - I was convinced that Morpheus, not Neo, was "the One" because Morpheus was the one willing to give up life for the sake of his friends.

    In short, Hollywood just doesn't understand what makes a good Messiah. :)

    Posted by Mike, Jan 15 2008, 10:59

    Yes, This week our local congregation has been considering the contrasting power plays and the ability to see in Mark 10:32-52.

    Hard to sum it up more succintly than

    1. "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
    2. Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

    Posted by Tom, Jan 15 2008, 12:05