Typography by Brighton Keller

The sermon at First Presbyterian Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Sunday completely captivated me. Believe it or not, our pastor, Garret Dawson, made a brilliant connection between today’s society and the one described in The Hunger Games. I haven’t read the book, but even so, I felt like the comparison was both relevant and thought-provoking. Garret commenced by illustrating the immense success and popularity that this story has experienced among a variety of ages and people. He explains that, “To date, the movie The Hunger Games has sold more than $635 million in tickets worldwide. The book by Suzanne Collins has sold several million copies.” He then asks the question,  “What is it about this story that attracts so many people?” And of course, the obvious answer is that it’s a page-turning adventure story, but he probes further and suggests there must be something more that makes this novel and story so captivating. And Garrett suggests that maybe the real or underlying reason why so many people are enthralled by this story is because we can relate to Katniss, the female protagonist. She is an authentic, beautiful young woman who puts others before herself, living a life with purpose, and possessing empowering skills while being incredibly humble at the same time. To me, it sounds like she is the ideal individual. Garrett goes on to explain that “The Hunger Games takes on the reality of idolatry. That is, the embracing of a false value over a real one.  The believing of a lie over truth.  Giving ourselves to lesser gods who promise what the true God alone can deliver. The idols of entertainment promise fulfillment. The idols of achievement promise inner acceptance. The idols of fashion promise relationships where we are valued.  Each can deliver an imitation of the real thing. But in our guts we know the truth…” 

Anyway, after hearing this on Sunday morning, I left church asking myself what are my idols? In what ways do I seek out instant gratification, rather than taking the path less traveled of trust and patience. I’m not trying to force any kind of faith on you, I just wanted to share something with you that stuck with me…. A relatable message that encouraged and challenged me to take a good look at and even evaluate what is truly important in life.

Oh, and for the record, this bible verse used in the image above doesn’t really relate to the sermon, but it is just one that I am personally focusing on this week!

{I hope this brief summary of what Garrett talked about on Sunday adequately and sufficiently conveys the message he was trying to get across. Obviously, it is my intention to properly transfer what I learned and appreciated on Sunday to you in a way that will respect his intentions. If you would like to read the transcript of the sermon –you can do so here: http://www.fpcbr.org/fpc/resources/ViewTranscript.aspx?ID=190}