Believe

What difference does believing, make?

Last night I watched Rise of the Guardians with Ian. It was pretty good! I loved the way they imagined and portrayed the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Sandman and Santa Claus, and the part they play in children's lives. Loved it! But anyway. The point:

The Guardians are protectors of children's innocence – the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Sandman and Santa Claus. But they are threatened by the Boogeyman who has launched an assault on Earth. His greatest gripe is that he is not believed in and hence cannot be seen. Nobody thinks he exists.

To change that, he turns Sandman's dreams for children to nightmares. He steals teeth, which contain children's memories, from the Tooth Fairy. He ruins all Easter eggs so children cannot not find any on Easter. And he wrecks Santa's workshop so Santa has no presents to deliver. Through these he robs children's hopes and sense of wonder, and one by one, children stop believing in each of the Guardians, while the Boogeyman's power only grows.

However, a new Guardian enters the picture. Jack. Jack Frost. The one who brings winter and snow. Jack's story is that even though he plays with kids, none of them can see him, and that saddens him. But for the good of the children, he teams up with the Guardians and finds the last child who still believes – Jamie.

Back in his bedroom, Jamie is fast losing hope because he looks silly being the only one who still believes in the Guardians. As Jack watches, Jamie holds his bunny and gives a last plea – please give me a sign so I know that you are still real. While still unseen, Jack frosts up Jamie's window and draws an easter egg and bunny, and makes it snow in Jamie's room. And suddenly, Jamie says, Jack! Jack Frost! And Jack cannot believe what he is hearing because for the first time ever, he is seen. He is seen, because Jamie realises he is real.

As with all children's stories, the ending is happy. The Boogeyman is diminished and shut back in his hole, while the Guardians are believed in once again and bring back children's innocence and sense of wonder.

After watching it, I have two thoughts:

One, we all want to be seen, to be known. Nobody wants to be ignored. We all want to be recognised. Even if not for our accomplishments and talents, at least, to be seen, to be acknowledged that we do exist, and that someone – just one – knows we exist.

Two, believing helps us see. If we cannot see, it sometimes is because we do not believe, thinking things are impossible. But if we believe, it means we can see it before our eyes. Whether a vision or reality, it is something that we accept to be true and "hold" to be true. It is something we hope for and can strive towards. While disbelief takes away that ability to see, believing helps us see. The more we hold that vision true, the more that will become reality for us.

Is there something I am believing for now? Or is there something I need to believe in/for?