This week is the much anticipated premier of the new Star Wars movie.  For the few that may not know, it’s the story of a family that struggles against the Dark Side, evil, and the Force, or the good side.  Much has been said of it’s Eastern religion ties.  But this blog is not supposed to be about religion.  It’s a blog about my personal journey for Truth, Joy, and Meaning.  It’s about my personal relationship with God.

The big question that will be answered this week about Star Wars for me is, does Luke Skywalker go to the Dark side?  I’m sure by the time you read this you may already know.  On a personal note, I’ve written in the past about my struggle as a teenager to move towards the Dark side.  I rejected the religion that I was taught and adhered to as a youngster and explored the “dark side”.  I did not like it.  In fact, even many years later, there always seems to be a pull, a suggestion, or thought that wants me to move in that direction.  Sadly, it’s very easy to see the “dark side’s” effects on people’s lives in the news media…terrorism, racism, sexism.  Lots of “isms”.  But what if someone wants to be delivered by the “dark side’s” pull.  Addiction, adultery, depression, hatred, bitterness…the list of the “evil force” abounds.

I was reading in the Book and studying what it mean to be “carnally minded” (CM) versus “spiritually minded” (SPM).  It’s like having two internal operating systems in our life.  Some of us have been “booted” up in the CM operating system, or OS.  Some of us have the option of rebooting each day in the SPM operating system.  Pardon the computer science analogy but that’s the career I have as my day job.

In one blog post  I can’t answer all of your questions about the “dark side” versus the “good force”.  But the first step towards living a spiritually minded life, in my opinion, is to seek the Light.  Seek the truth.  Be like the bug in the computer animated film, “A Bug’s Life”, and keep flying towards the light bulb.  But stop before you get too close.  If the dark side has you entangled, seek the Light.  I believe this Light, or the Light of the World, as He calls Himself, will see you as you move towards Him.  And He will lead you to become spiritually minded.

This Christmas season is about Him.  Listen to His voice in the songs and stories of this tradition.  See for yourself if He will be your Immanuel, or God with us.  Wouldn’t having God with you make life that much better?

Hear some words from the Book written about the One who calls Himself Light and Life hundreds of years before He came to this world:
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.'”