Are there Disney or Pixar movies that you enjoy? Are there characters you can completely relate to? For me, there are only a few animated movies that I love.
I think they’re fun and cute, but once I watch them, I’m pretty much done–as in “That was interesting. Don’t think I’ll be watching that again. Ever. Although…I did like the music. Glad you enjoyed it kiddos.”
Of course, they don’t usually share my sentiments and want to watch it over and over again.
I remember when we watched Moana as a family. I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. It had great music, an interesting plot, and was well put together, although I still get annoyed hearing Dwayne Johnson’s voice singing “you’re welcome” in my head every blasted time I hear or say that phrase.
Interestingly enough, days after we watched it, I found myself thinking about one of the antagonists, a giant and greedy crab named Tamatoa—not his narcissistic qualities or diabolical rantings but his love of “shiny.”
Here are a few lines from his clever song.
“I’d rather be shiny like a treasure from a sunken pirate wreck—scrub the deck and make it look shiny. I will sparkle like a wealthy woman’s neck. Just a sec—
Don’t you know fish are dumb, dumb, dumb. They chase anything that glitters—beginners. And here they come, come, come to the brightest thing that glitters…”
Now I’m not talking about literally being obsessed with shiny things, although I do love a good pair of gold earrings, but rather in its application of spiritual parallels. Let me point out 3 specifically.
- Don’t get distracted
Not only was Maui distracted because he couldn’t figure out how to use his hook properly, Tamatoa was distracted by his love of shiny things. Moana was the only one who remembered her mission—to retrieve the hook for Maui and escape.
Likewise, we also have to discover and at times rediscover our mission as life changes.
What are the gifts and talents you bring to this world? To your family? Every human being on this planet has at least one. What unique viewpoints and life experiences do you have that can help others? Have you ever written a life or mission statement? If you have, do you read it and let it guide your decisions?
Part of discovering your mission and understanding your contribution in life will revolve around having daily moments to listen and be still. Call it what you will–meditation, prayer, planning, or quiet time—hopefully the end result will be the same. The wisdom we gain when we turn heavenward can help us find and accomplish our mission(s) in life.
We all need time each day when our minds aren’t running a million different directions leaving us with the residue of overwhelm. Reining in our thoughts and simplifying is a surefire antidote for distraction. It’s amazing how much going back to the basics realigns our vision.
- Keep your heart centered on what matters
It was Tamatoa’s love of shiny things that led to his downfall. Because his heart was so set on the shiny, Moana was able to lure him away by appealing to this weakness—which ironically he considered his greatest strength. Maui and Moana escaped while Tamatoa was left stuck in the sand.
Wise women know they need to listen to and examine their hearts.
Particularly as mothers and lifelong learners, there will always be that latest and greatest shiny calling out to us for a quick fix or surefire solution (a-hem, my Achilles heel).
Obviously, being a blogger I love to take helpful courses, read books, and find resources that enlighten my understanding and enlarge my mind, but as women, mothers, and individuals who love to learn and digest helpful, practical information, we have to be on the watch for “Tamatoa” who parades around as the newest idea, current philosophy, fad, or must-have product.
While resources and ideas are great, ultimately God is and always has been the greatest source of knowledge. Look to Him as you take responsibility for your own life, well-being, and happiness. Turn to Him. In the end, if we are distracted and our hearts aren’t centered on what’s really important, we run the risk of becoming fish food—tricked and devoured—just like Tamatoa sings.
- Stay the course
Instead of continually digesting information and media to fill the voids in your life and heart, apply more of what you’ve already learned from Him and stay the course. It reminds me of the scripture, “But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.” (2 Nephi 9:29)
What exactly are we talking about when we use the phrase, stay the course? Basically put, keep going. Keep trying. Keep diverting those destructive mindsets. Do your best but keep your focus on the the things that matter most in life–the people around you, truth and light, your relationship with God and keep moving toward those. True knowledge comes from the education of eternity. It comes through experience along with correct perspective. Don’t let the shiny keep you from your relationship with Deity.
Being preoccupied with the glitter (whatever that represents for you individually) if left unchecked can keep you in a constant state of wanting rather than giving and masking rather than becoming.
God will always be the ultimate source of understanding, wisdom, and peace. That’s the real shiny—and even more valuable than gold!
