Spiritual truth in Hollywood?
Hollywood has a reputation for being many things but spiritual is not one of them. In an industry that seems to revere violence, sex, drugs, and a lack of ethics and morality in its final products to the public, it is indeed a breath of fresh air to see a movie that has spiritual truths. There have been a few that come immediately to mind, “Ghost”, “Always”, and “What Dreams May Come”. Those three are easily spiritually recognized. Some movies, however, appear to be mindless on the surface but serve a higher purpose underneath. I am speaking about Bill Murray’s “Groundhog Day”.
Stop laughing and keep reading. I do have a point and you will see the true inner meaning of all the shenanigans in the movie in a moment.
I have watched the movie with my family several times, usually when nothing better was available. Recently, I caught a screening of it on television (at my daughter’s insistence) and I watched again. About ten minutes from the ending, I finally got the message. It hit me between the eyes like a sledge hammer. At first all I could do was sit there staring at the screen with a dumbfounded look on my face. Then I saw the humor, you should pardon the pun, and I couldn’t stop laughing. When I finally caught my breath, I was able to share the cause of my laughter with my daughter. The truth is that “Groundhog Day” is a wonderful and pretty accurate example of the workings of reincarnation.
Okay, be skeptical, but bear with me while I explain.
Bill Murray’s character is a self-serving, obnoxious, egomaniacal on-screen reporter when the story opens. He cares only for himself and whatever his reputation and name can get him in the way of wine, women, and song. Each day in his journey up the corporate ladder of journalistic success, he steps on anyone in his way, including those of his crew who are forced to contend with his pretentiousness on a daily basis. He has only disdain and disgust for those around him who are not as sophisticated, educated, and as driven as he is for the materialistic part of life. He cannot understand those who find peace and beauty in their lives without the finest champagnes, five star hotel, limousines, and name brand tailors.
His attitude does not win many friends either personally or in the business world. For that reason, he is sent to a small town in Pennsylvania whose lone source of notoriety comes one day a year, Groundhog Day, February 2, when the famous town resident, Pawtauxtant Bill, prophesies the arrival of spring or the continuation of winter for another six weeks based on the appearance, or lack thereof, of his shadow. Bill hates the town, so small that his hotel room has no room service. He is more rude than usual to his crew and the townspeople and his one goal is to complete the story and return to New York as quickly as he can. Once the story is on film, he returns to his hotel room and goes to bed, content that his time in the small town is soon to end.
Imagine his surprise, when the clock wakes him with the same music and morning show announcements that he heard the day before. Everything in his day is a repeat of the one before including running into a former high school classmate. Conversations with people and actions duplicate the previous day. Only his own words and actions change slightly.
Day after day, he is stuck in the town on February 2, Groundhog Day. No matter what he does to try to break the spell, he continues to wake to the same music and inane radio chatter as the day before.
He uses this to his own selfish advantage at first. No matter what he says or does one day, no one remembers it the next, no one but him. He can be a despicable cad, seduce women, run up bills around town, insult people, and damage people’s property. The next day everything returns to the way it was. Everything, that is, but him. Desperate to change things, he creates ways to end his life. He drives into a train, runs into a building, and gets shot, all to no avail. He still wakes up in the same situation.
Only when Bill’s attitude changes and he begins to live with a regard for others does his world begin to change for the better. Where at first he speaks with a beautiful woman to gain information about her that he can use to seduce her, as he develops in consciousness, he begins to treat her, and others, with respect. Soon he finds himself really caring about the people with whom he interacts day after eternal day, and they, in turn, begin to care about him. He befriends a homeless man, inquires with interest after a resident’s family, and begins to care about the television crew who works with him. He even finds himself falling in love with his lovely production assistant as he really learns to know her.
Slowly, things change in Bill’s world until one day he is able to share his predicament with his love and to make her, also, see the truth. She has also fallen in love with him and they share a beautiful day and evening together.
The clock wakes him the next morning and, miracle of miracles, it is truly the next morning, February 3! The spell has been broken and Bill is able to return to his old world a changed man, one who has grown in consciousness and spirituality.
This is an analogy of how reincarnation works in our lives to help us learn and grow. Bill’s life in the beginning is like a new soul who see only himself as important and wants whatever he wants whether it adversely affects others or not. Souls new to the planet may have little spiritual knowledge to ground them and sometimes run amok in the material world wanting to have everything at any cost. As the soul returns time and again to the physical world, there is a lingering knowledge that the material is not all that this Earth dimension is about. As the concept of love for others enters into the soul’s consciousness, new relationships are formed on the basis of compassion and empathy rather than the previous “what’s in it for me” attitude. That is the beginning of true soul growth and development.
The more a soul advances and grows in spiritual consciousness, the less it is involved in the race for material possessions, fame, and notoriety and the more focus is placed on helping others and the planet. Consider Bill’s early personality as a possible Saddam Hussein or Hitler, barging through life with no thought to the treatment of all the other people who touch his life and who he affects emotionally or physically. He wants what he wants when he wants it, regardless of anyone or anything else.
As the soul progresses on its journey toward enlightenment, other people became important. The value of human life, the desire to eliminate needless suffering and want all take precedence so toward the end of the progression and the nearing of true enlightenment, there is a soul who blesses the planet as Earth was blessed by Mother Theresa. She devoted her entire life to feeding, clothing, and educating the starving men, women, and children of Calcutta, India, where class still determines the ability to have a decent job and education. She sacrificed whatever personal life she might have had to spend her time selflessly and tirelessly caring for those less fortunate than herself.
Even as idiotic as “groundhog day” appears on the surface, there is much spiritual truth and wisdom to be gained from it. For instance:
* Nothing in your life changes for the better unless you make a change for the better in your outlook and consciousness.
* You receive love when you give it away generously and frequently.
* Material possessions do not last and, in the end, are unimportant. People and relationships are the things that endure.
* Do not look for respect from others until you have shown respect for them…and yourself.
* Whatever you don’t get “right” the first time will present itself again and again in future lives and situations until you do get it “right”. This explains people who go from one bad relationship into another. The lesson has not yet been learned so another opportunity for growth and learning presents itself.
* Eventually, you will “get it” and the spell of bad decisions and unwanted consequences will be broken. Then you will have the life of peace, happiness, and prosperity that you have always wanted.
Even in Hollywood, there are opportunities to share spiritual truths and present a different outlook. The next time you sit in a darkened movie theatre or surf the channels at home, pay close attention to what the movie doesn’t say, as well as what it does. You may be surprised, like I was, to find a spiritual gem disguised as just another film production.
To those who expressed their condolences at the loss of my brother, I thank you. I came back from Memphis sick and spent several weeks recuperating. I apologize for the length of time away from this column.
Spend time during this Passover/Easter/Spring celebration in consideration of the renewal of the spirit and the Earth during this time of year. Know that the Creator renews all of us as surely as the flowers bloom and the birds sing. Please pray for peace everywhere and the quick and safe return of all military personnel to their homes and families.
Love and Light to you all!
