“God, I forgot How Big.” This statement is, for me, the central quote from the 1990 movie, “Joe VS The Volcano.” Tom Hanks plays Joe, a hopeless hypochondriac with a dead end job and life. At yet another Doctor’s appointment he is told he has a terminal illness. This actually cheers him up considerably because his suspicions of illness have been confirmed.
The next thing he knows, Joe is offered an all expenses paid first class, private trip of a lifetime…. He is invited to be a human sacrifice! Yes, I said a human sacrifice. A very wealthy businessman needs to appease the spirit of an increasingly active volcano somewhere in the south Pacific. If he does not satisfy the god, the businessman will lose an ingredient he needs to stay in business. None of the local inhabitants are brave enough.
Joe takes the job, knowing he will die with a purpose instead of meaninglessness. Predictably, this leads him into all kinds of mishaps and adventures. In one of these, he is adrift at sea on a raft made of his four huge steamer trunks tied together. He has been on the raft alone for days baking in the sun. He is on the edge of delirium when the full moon rises over the pacific. My photo does not do justice to the full Super Moon he sees.
He labors to pull himself up to kneeling. Raising both his arms in awe, his now scrawny frame is silhouetted in the light of the huge orb. Eventually, he gains enough strength to half gasp, half shout: “GOD… I… Forgot… HOW… BIG!”
Up to this this moment Joe was living his life for himself. Even accepting to be a human sacrifice was more about his significance than it was about saving lives or helping another make money. From this place of desperation, Joe sees no way to complete the mission that would give him that previously elusive significance for the first time in his life.
It is from that place at the end of himself when all seems lost that our Creator reveals His greatness and Joe can receive it. Joe’s freshly discovered humility coupled with that spectacular display of God’s natural glory goes deep into his soul. Something deep inside Joe changes forever.
I suspect most of us can relate on several levels with Joe. Human lives are adrift until we meet the one who made us. Yes we can get excited at the prospect of a mission that lends us meaning. But we do not exist primarily for projects or missions of any kind.
We are here to receive the love of God so we become able to love God back. (1John 4:19) Likewise, we exist to love others as God loves us, to give them hope and life. (John 14:21 & 23)
How did Joe fare in the end? I hope you watch it to find out. I promise you will enjoy Meg Ryan’s performances too.
The real question is: Do we remember “How Big” our God is? Can we site how our Creator connects to the deepest parts of us? I would love to hear about your experiences with God.
