Is There Life After Star Wars?

In a non spoiler alert, the latest Star Wars move, The Last Jedi, was very predictable to those who are strong with the Force. But what else would you expect? Of course, most people who were going to see the latest episode of Star Wars have already. Most of those who are will be seeing the movie are repeat offenders.

Now if Star Wars movies isn't your game, there is a plethora of entertainment options. As of now, we are in the midst of a gluttony of football watching. After that will be basketball and ice hockey until we pass go, collect $200, and start another season of baseball. So to answer the question posed in the title, there is life after Star Wars, entertainment life that is.

But what about real life? Is there real life after Star Wars and gluttonous consumption of other forms of entertainment? Not by coincidence, that was a similar question the prophet Amos asked of his fellow Jews who lived such comfortable lives that their biggest problem was being disappointed by their favorite football team losing a bowl game. Starting with Amos 6:1 and going through the rest of the chapter, the prophet pronounces woe on those who are satisfied with a comfortable status quo. Then in verse 6,  he states his biggest complaint about his fellow Jews: that they were not saddened by what became of their idolatrous nation that ignored social justice. Verse 8 of the same chapter should send a wake up call to all proud Americans:

I abhor the pride of Jacob
    and detest his fortresses;
I will deliver up the city
    and everything in it.

 We should note how proud America is. We should also note the growing number of those who are suffering among us. And yet, we continue to pay far more attention to worlds that either don't exist or don't matter than to the real worlds of those who continue to suffer. Our pride will do the opposite of saving us because it blinds us to our coming judgment.

Such is the message of Amos 6. It's as relevant to us, some of whom care more about our flag being respected than our people who are victims of violent racism, as it was to the people Amos preached to. For it is one thing when movies and sports are a break from our normal mode of life of helping and caring for others. It is another when thinking about and helping the vulnerable is a break from being entertained. And so according to Amos, there is life after Star Wars, but it is a life of future judgment rather than a life to be enjoyed.