So many important political and economic issues are filling the air. Things feel very tense as 2021 seeks to prove that it will be just as memorable as 2020. It is time to take a break for a second from that because there is still fun to be had. I would encourage anyone who gets the opportunity to take a step back and take in the movie Soul. Released by Pixar on Disney Plus this past December, Soul hit me as one of Pixar’s most poignant films.

Without diving into spoilers, I would say that Soul touches on the themes of regret, inspiration, and passion that many experience over the course of their lives. The main characters, Joe and 22, seek to find the meaning of life. Sit back with an open mind and enjoy this movie. As a believer, I think Pixar comes close to some really important ideas here! The viewer is encouraged throughout the movie to make the most of life, no matter the circumstances. Passions are great, but life offers too many daily moments to be consumed by the idea of a “perfect career” or “perfect life.” As a follower of Christ, this movie served as a great reminder to grow where the Lord has planted me.

In Philippians 1 Paul prays that the believers would grow in their knowledge of Christ. Paul desires to be with Christ, but God has chosen to keep him on Earth to work. In chapter 2, Paul encourages the Philippians to obey and follow in the example of Christ, holding fast to the word of life so they may shine amongst the darkness in all circumstances. In chapter 3, Paul reminds them that all earthly gain is loss compared to the worth of knowing Christ and to press on to obtain the prize. In the final chapter, he compels the believers to dwell on the good things and avoid quarrelling and complaining. I could not help but think about Philippians while watching this movie. A takeaway from Philippians is to pursue Christ regardless of our earthly circumstances. Paul wrote this letter in chains; our priority is reflect Christ, not to seek our preferred earthly circumstances. Believers ought to be defined by our pursuit of Christ. Watch the movie with this in mind, and I think you’ll love it.

***Spoilers***

I have a few more less organized thoughts that are no less important, but they are very spoiler heavy, so if you care, turn back now.

Throughout the entire film, Joe is so consumed with achieving his goal of becoming a jazz musician, that he pushes all other things aside. The viewer is led to believe that he’s never held a stable job for long in the hopes of making his passion his career. After all, our culture has told us that we should pursue what we love all the time no matter the cost. In a way, Joe is the hero of the classic Disney mentality. He believes in himself and chases his dreams no matter the cost. He will settle for nothing less because he can do whatever he wants (jazz). Joe’s mom serves as a foil in the movie. She loves her son, but she knows one needs to pay the bills, “You can’t eat dreams for breakfast!” His mom represents an older idea in American culture viewing work as just a job that feeds the family. Joe represents a newer idea that our job should be our passion. I think that the movie finds an intriguing middle ground between the two ideas. In the end, through Joe’s interactions with 22, the viewer is presented the idea that achieving your dream is not as important as enjoying the moments and people around you. Life is not defined by one passion or one job; instead, it is comprised of the people and beauty around you, and we should seek to make the most of every second. Every circumstance is laced with opportunity. That’s why (I think) the ending is ambiguous. It does not matter what career Joe chooses to pursue; his new outlook on everyday life is what matters.

Another note on Joe’s character: I think the theme of mentorship in Joe’s life is incredibly interesting. I have seen many people like Joe. People doing their jobs, stuck in the humdrum and burnt out by the monotony. However, these people totally miss the lives they influence. Curley, Connie, and 22 all learn from Joe’s amazing passion for music. Unfortunately for him, he is too tired of his humdrum life and too caught up in his dreams to realize the impact he is making on others in the moment. Mentorship fits well with the idea of making the most of where you are. Leaning into his teaching role, Joe can make a huge difference in so many lives. I’ve been profoundly shaped by many teachers, leaders, coaches, and employers who were often swept up in monotony (like Joe in his teaching job) who probably never realized what an influential position they had. Nice touch, Pixar!

Pixar does a really good job here of working with the past year’s racial unrest. Soul is not about racial inequality or unrest. It does not shove an agenda about race in your face. Pixar simply tells a compelling story about a man, who happens to be black. He lives in a diverse neighborhood of NYC, and he lives life as normal. In a year where race was shoved to the surface and often made out to be the most important fact about a person, I appreciate that Soul just told a good story about people. The focus was on the content of their character, instead of the color of their skin.

Pixar movies are usually good kids’ movies; Soul is not. A lot of the drive behind this movie rests on viewers understanding the feeling of regret and broken dreams. Joe’s life is littered with disappointment and regret! With a little life experience (it does not take much) most folks probably can appreciate the idea of having regrets and broken dreams. The older you are, the more life you have to look back on and realize you did not get everything you wanted or handle everything correctly. Don’t get me wrong, I really like this movie; it simply won’t strike a chord with children nearly as well as many of Pixar’s other properties.

Anyway, these are my assorted thoughts on Soul. As an avid opponent of numerical ranking systems, I rate this movie a, “I just found a $20 under my bed!”