A Time to Be Rogue

Rogue is an adjective used to describe something or someone that is different from others in usually a dangerous or harmful way.

I am not a Star Wars geek, so I will not attempt to analyze how Rogue One fits into the overall Star Wars universe nor how it fared compared to all the other franchises.  If that's what you're looking for, you will do better talking to my son than reading this blog.

But, if you must know, I liked it.  Forget the there-but-not-quite-there hint of a love story between Jyn and Cassian.  Forget how awesome (and kind of sexy) Chirrut Imwe was.  Forget, too, the more elegant Sam-Frodo dynamics he had with Baze Malbus.  I enjoyed those bits, too.  But I liked it more because the movie was riddled with nuggets of wisdom that are relevant, timely (even urgent) and must be underlined.

There are 10 lines that struck me...

"Remember, whatever I do, I do it to protect you."

Every event is multifaceted, one facet for the perspective of each person involved.  Nobody truly knows the entire story until it is viewed and understood from each of those person's perspective. 

• Galen Erso was viewed as a defector by the rebellion when he became the Empire's lead Engineer for the Death Star. A mission was sent to kill him on site.  But, in truth, Galen Erso decided to take that critical role in order to build a weakness into the Death Star - which he communicated to the rebellion at the risk of his own life.
• For years, Jyn Erso harbored hurt against Saw Gerrera for abandoning her at age 16.  But Saw Gerrera did this to protect her, so that she is not linked to the rebellion and used to blackmail her father.  And, before doing so, he trained her. "You were already the best soldier in my cadre."

Often, when "bad" things happen to us, we only see the pain and negative impact. Sometimes we allow the pain to consume us, clouding over our perspective, that we fail to see the eventual good that comes from it.  During difficult times, "when we can't trace His hand," we need to hold fast and "trust His heart" - because, like any father, God tells us, "Remember, whatever I do, I do it to protect you."

"Congratulations.  You are being rescued. Please do not resist."
Contrary to what some people think, to be saved can be very painful that the first instinct is, understandably, to run away altogether.  But, because God loves us and we are important, He might resort to some drastic measures --- like hitting us hard, so that we stop long enough to realize what is happening.  Hopefully, after that, we are much more pliant. "Quiet!  And there's a fresh one if you mouth off again!"

"The Force is with me. I am one with the Force.  And I fear nothing, for all is as the Force wills it."
This one needs no further explanation.  Just switch "Force" with "God".  It's an effective mantra to calm one's spirit; to find strength during difficult times; to find the courage to follow God's will, especially when it's contrary to what your mind is telling you; to trust and hope in the face of impossibility.

"There are no Jedi here anymore, only dreamers, like this fool."
Preaching about God and introducing Him to people who do not know Him yet is not just the responsibility of priests and religious (Jedi).  We don't need a special title to tell the world about God and how He moves in our lives.  In this society/world of ambiguity and confusion, I dare you to be that foolish dreamer who will forge, unblinking, towards the clear path where the "Force" leads.

"The Force did protect me."  "I protected you."
"Goodluck!" "I don't need luck.  I have you."
God is efficient that way.  He moves people and uses them as instruments to do His will. And He does not discriminate. Sometimes He sends a believer; sometimes, an unbeliever.  Sometimes He sends YOU.

"You can stand to see the Imperial flag reign across the galaxy?"  "It's not a problem if you don't look up"
Pope Francis pointed it out many times, one of the greatest diseases of this generation is indifference. While technology has given us access to so much information, it has also desensitized us to the point of indifference and apathy.  What does not affect us directly, does not matter.  There is nothing wrong with it until it happens to us.  Or, sometimes, it is easy to feel involved without really getting involved.  If you haven't figured it out yet, liking or forwarding an article does not help.  Yes, it helps raise awareness. But what good is it in a universe of information where it is difficult to decipher fact from fabrication?

"I had orders!  Orders that I disobeyed!"  "You might as well be a stormtrooper."
God gave us the ability to perceive and evaluate things.  He also gave us free will.  May we always choose to do what our hearts say is right.

"You give way to an enemy this evil with this much power and you condemn the galaxy to an eternity of submission."  "The time to fight is now!"
There should be no dilly-dallying.  There is no small effort.  Every little effort adds up. Everyday we are faced with choices - right or wrong, big or small.  Everytime we choose to do what is right, no matter how small, we win a battle.

"... we'll take the next chance. And the next chance.  On and on until we win ... or the chances are spent."
Sometimes following God's will entails running into battle blindly with no plans other than taking one chance (He presents us) at a time. Just run with it.

"The strongest stars have hearts of kyber"
Hearts attuned to God are the strongest and bravest.  These are the ones most capable of going rogue when the times call for it.

Nobody, other than God, knows the full story or the Master Plan.  That is why, during these trying times, it is even more critical to stay attuned to Him through daily prayer meditation and reading of His Word.  Only in this way will we know what to do, when to do it.

To each one of us and to society as a whole ...

May the Force be with us when it is Time to be Rogue.