Tommy Tomlinson writes:
“You might have heard the story about the director JJ Abrams, who has created (among many other things) the TV series LOST and FELICITY, and directed two of the last three STAR WARS movies. When Abrams was a kid, he went to a magic store and bought a Mystery Box—a box with a big question mark taped to the outside. There were probably some magic tricks inside, maybe a couple of toys … but you didn’t know. To Abrams it represents infinite possibility. It represents hope. It represents potential. He has never opened the Mystery Box.”
The Mystery Box is not about the contents themselves, but the anticipation and the infinite possibilities they represent. This resonates with the human desire to dream, to imagine, and to believe in something greater. As we mature, societal pressures, responsibilities, and past disappointments often lead us to embrace cynicism and lose that childlike wonder. We start to believe we’ve seen it all, that the “boxes” of life have been opened and their contents are predictable.
Lent, as a period of reflection and renewal, provides an opportunity to challenge this cynicism. It’s a time to rediscover the awe and wonder that comes from acknowledging the vastness of the unknown, both within ourselves and in the spiritual realm. The feeling that possibility, hope, and potential have diminished is an illusion. It’s a self-imposed limitation that stems from focusing on past experiences and perceived constraints.
Tommy Tomlinson’s story serves as a reminder that possibility, hope, and potential are inherent qualities of the human spirit, waiting to be rediscovered. Lent provides a unique opportunity to embrace the “Mystery Box” within ourselves, to explore the depths of our spiritual selves, and to approach life with renewed wonder and faith.
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