Any movie based on a Dr. Seuss book is bound to be entertaining. I did a report on Tim Geisel and the messages he sends through his creative rhymes and stories. The Lorax movie was no exception. It stayed true to the book with the animation, the colors and most importantly the messages.
The most obvious message is that of corporate greed. The Once-ler promised to chop down just one tree but the Lorax saw the danger in that. In the end, the Once-ler chopped down every last truffula tree. He didn't care that he chopped down all the trees, he didn't care that he pushed out all the animals. He listened to the voice of the consumer and greed. He sold out all he saw for the green. And in the end, he lived in a run-down old shack, no friends and no family. He lived in smog and grayness. All the color, all the life was sucked right out of that place. He eventually realized his mistakes as he shares his story and hands over the last truffula seed with this quote, "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."
This quote hit home inside of me but outside of the movie. In my last post I let you into a glimpse of the struggles I'm struggling through. This quotes addresses my attitude toward those issues. If I don't care about where I am and where I want to go, who will? If I don't care about friendships and my relationship with God, nothing will get better. So why do I dwell on the negatives and 'what ifs' when I should be focusing on what I can do because I am the one who ultimately can make a change for the better.
But back to the Lorax's messages.
Along with the quote I quoted above, the Once-Ler says "Its not about what it is, its about what it can become". Inspiration hits again. It is purely our choice if we leave things how they are or work to make them something bigger and better. Sure, we all could use the encouragement of friends and family, sometimes we need the harsh realities to hit us in the face. Yes, I pray to God for guidance, strength and opportunities but its up to me to see and take hold of those opportunities He provides. We can always do something to make something become bigger and better. (But remember the first lesson we learned from the Lorax, financial success isn't all its cracked up to be.)
The Lorax said "A tree falls the way it leans. Be careful which way you lean." Again, the concept may seem obvious but do we actually believe and understand it. If you lean towards material success; having the newest, coolest car, sexy clothes, the biggest house and most expensive toys; that's fine, just look at where you might fall (i.e. The Once-ler). If you lean towards constant approval and confidence from friends and family, you might just lose that approval and confidence from and in yourself. If you lean on God as your Father and all He has promised, you are guaranteed to have a glorious, eternal life. Now there are many other things to lean on and at at times I'm sure we've all leaned on multiple things but ask yourself, which way do you lean?
I'm working towards taking just some of the messages presented in the movie to heart. There are more messages within the movie and I encourage you, young or old, to spend the $10 and go see the movie. But don't just watch it for entertainment value. Watch it for messages that can better your life.
