Emerging Scholars Blog

InterVarsity's Emerging Scholars Network

review

Star Trek: The Right Stuff?

Note:  Contains spoilers and has become more of a reflection than a review* …

Star Trek Movie Poster
Star Trek Movie Poster

Faith & Geekery claims Star Trek Will Rock the Summer.  Yes, Star Trek features superb action, casting, soundtrack, and special effects.  As a fan who only reached the theater on Monday (to distinguish myself from Trekkies who went to the early screening in uniform/costume on Thursday night), Star Trek not only fit in the 43 year history well enough, but also created the foundation for a future series which will boldly go where it hasn’t quite gone before.

With that on the table, I must confess that I spent much of the film reflecting upon how followers of Christ in the academic community should respond to Star Trek‘s portrayal of reality, courage, emotion, integrity, intellect, love, mentoring, and what is right. Why?  Because J.J. Abrams set the destiny shaping, coming of age story of the crew of the Starship Enterprise (largely focused upon Spock and James T. Kirk) in the context of Kirk’s rise to Captain before early graduation from Starfleet Academy.  Kirk was so much the right stuff that he received special recognition for his heroic emergency field service and completely avoided the traditional fast track to Captain as described by Captain Christopher Pike earlier in the film, i.e., four years at Starfleet Academy followed by four years in the field.

[Read more…] about Star Trek: The Right Stuff?

Randy’s Last Lecture

Last Lecture Book Cover
Last Lecture Book Cover

When I purchased Randy Pausch’s The Last Lecture in book form, I mentioned to the cashier how I played pick-up basketball with Randy while a campus minister at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU).  She responded by sharing excitedly about the CMU Computer Science Professor’s book and interview with Diane Sawyer.  I asked her if she watched The Last Lecture.  She responded, No.  I encouraged her to do so.  Why?

1.   Randy was a dynamic, creative, and refreshing personality at CMU well before he faced pancreatic cancer.  His optimism in the face of tragedy was inspirational to many people.  And his legacy will continue to be influential for years to come.  In Randy’s lecture, entitled Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams, you find a hopeful Tigger instead of an cynical Eeyore pushing his technological habitat forward with his last breath while at the same time leaving a legacy for his wife and children!

2.   Randy confronts head on the elephant in the room, i.e. his terminal cancer.  Passionate about honesty, he writes, If I could only give three words of advice, they would be “tell the truth.” If I got three more words, I’d add: “All the time.” My parents taught me that “you’re only as good as your word,” and there’s no better way to say it” (p. 163).  Note:  for Randy’s chronicling of his journey, check out his health update page.

3.  The Last Lecture stands out as a command performance, truly worthy of high regard in the genre, check out the various Last Lecture media links.

But as a follower of Christ who has faced his share of brick walls, including a personal struggle with intermediate grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma along with post-treatment health concerns and the death of my infant daughter Elise Faith; I find optimism alone to be lacking when facing life’s tragedies.  Although some hardships may, as Randy states, give us a chance to show us how much we want something because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people, I find that brick walls remind me that the world is not about me, that I depend upon Another (beyond family, community, financial resources, contacts, and memories), and I have been given One More Day to be a blessing to those around me.

I enjoyed my time on the basketball court with Randy, never-the-less I wish that I would have had One More Day to chat with him about facing brick walls not by one’s own will but through Christ Jesus.  If you have a moment as the new term begins, let me know your thoughts on The Last Lecture.