Get LOST

I suspect that there are probably a bunch of people that are going to be talking about this right for the next week before the newness dies off, and I feel like I should write about it too, so don't get mad at me if you don't watch the show! I won't give away anything about the show, so you don't have to worry about spoilers. And away we go.

I remember watching this show starting in the second season. My roommates in college had the season 1 dvd set and we went through it in about a week because it was so interesting. At that point in season 2, and in the world, they didn't have the show posted on the web for you to watch if you missed it, so I bought the iTunes season pass so we could download all the episodes and catch up to that season. Now we were hooked! The characters were so interesting, the plot was hard to figure out, the mysteries piled up, and it was fun! We would end every show speculating about what was going on and what different characters had an agenda they were trying to push, and it just caused you to take a step back and analyze the show sort of like a book for English class. Instead of turning my brain off for a TV show, I had to turn it on, and I liked that.

As years went by, I was a faithful viewer and so were my friends and family. I would go home from school or from work and I would talk about the show with my mom and sister, or I would meet some new friends and I usually would spark a conversation by asking if they watched - if they did it was an instant bond. I was able to do the same thing in youth ministry as well. I would ask students if they watched and if they did, we could discuss the show, and, once again, instantly bond. So, with the show ending I am losing not only a good show to watch, but a conversation starter as well. Double bummer!

All of this is my lead up to what I really want to say about the end of the show.

A lot of people seem to be confused or disappointed by the ending. The finale was emotional and confusing and a little bit tough to swallow for me at first. I think a bunch of people are going to read into it and say, "Hey, they didn't answer that question!" Or, "That isn't how I would have ended the show!" And, "What about character X - what happened to them!" But, after thinking about this for a little bit, I think the show had a clear theme last night. And that theme was this:

It's all about relationships. It was about the special bond we form with some people - people that may enter our lives for a short time, or people that are present throughout our lives. The message was that we should cherish all relationships. Lost captured this incredibly well throughout its time on TV. Looking back it becomes clear when I think about the relationships between father and son, husband and wife, leader and follower, old and young, mother and son, etc. If you ask me, the bottom line of the show became the importance of ALL relationships.

We are starting a new church in Fort Bend County and one of the most important aspects is going to be relationships. Culture can do a lot of things bigger and better than a church can - even the biggest church! But, the one thing that culture cannot compete with is the church's ability to foster authentic relationships. Relationships between young and old, father and daughter, husband and wife, new friends and old friends, and so on. This is also biblical  -

Hebrews 10:24-25 (New International Version)

²⁴And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. ²⁵Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.


The bottom line: relationships are important. Some people will be sad that the show is over. I am a little bit. But, the finale reminded me that I have a bunch of people in my life that I love, and that I love spending time with. Make all your relationships count today.