REINVENTION CONCLUDED
(Napoleon Dynamite: Part 7 of 7)
In six previous articles, i’ve shared how characters in Napoleon Dynamite undergo a reinvention of themselves. If you haven’t read those articles then please start at part 1 of 7. Here are some short concluding remarks on the subject of reinvention.
The beauty about reinvention is stepping in the direction of your full potential. It’s lovely to know each of us can become a better “me” through experience - whether good or bad. Reinvention never ceases. And because it’s always with us, it’s only noticeable when acknowledged.
In other words, society would have us believe that an old dog can’t learn new tricks. On the contrary, the older we get the more we learn and if we become intentional about living new experiences then we will have a constant renewal of reinvention. Still, no one can totally reinvent oneself. Total reinvention of oneself would be to live a sinless life. That’s just not gonna happen. However, we can daily surrender to the process of reinvention.
Through Uncle Rico, Kip, Pedro, Deb and Napoleon, we learn that reinvention of oneself doesn’t happen alone. We’re meant to live in community. It turns out that those with whom we invest life actually give us life. People give us something to talk about and learn about ourselves.
John Lennon sang about reinvention in his song “Beautiful Boy”, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” The reinvention process is very similar. The changes come in increments. Over a sustained period of time perpetual minutia of those changes develop into total reinvention of the self.
It’s important to remember that “reinvention” is a derivative of “reinvent”. Can a person completely reinvent the self? It’s possible. It comes about through salvation in Jesus. i pray you encounter the greatest reinvention of all - and that is the reinvention to righteousness through His presence.
