Napoleon Dynamite
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I watched Napoleon Dynamite years ago, when it first came out, and then probably another one or two times since then. I recently re-watched it because a group of gents I’m blessed to meet with were going to discuss it.
My first thought was, Really? Napoleon Dynamite?
Not because I didn’t like the movie – I did and still do – but because it’s such a silly movie with easily quotable phrases, that I doubted a conversation with any depth would come out of it.
Well call me Rico, because how wrong I was.
One theme that came up for a few of us was forgiveness. When Napoleon danced to help Pedro out, Deb remembered the type of person Napoleon was and forgave him without needing Napoleon to say anything.
But then as we were wrapping up our conversation, it hit me – she didn’t forgive him.
She didn’t forgive him, because there was nothing he did that she needed to forgive him for. Napoleon never said what Uncle Rico says he said. Deb realized that what she was mad at Napoleon about was based on a lie. She recognized that her reality was based on a lie. That the reason she was so angry wasn’t based on the truth.
Which made me think of the night before – I was talking with my wife, and I shared something I assumed she’d roll her eyes at, because I know she doesn’t think it’s as important as I do. And because I made the assumption, I read into her response more than I should have, and got upset because of something she didn’t actually do. I was upset because I was allowing a lie to become my reality.
This is something of an issue I have that I’ve been trying to work on. I overthink and assume how people – not just my wife – are going to react to something, and I allow that to affect my mood and how I interact with people. And almost always, those assumptions are based on my own insecurities and not on anything that has actually happened. The devil feeds me lies, and because I’ve allowed myself to believe them for so long, it is that much harder to stop myself from spiraling in those negative thoughts.
All this makes me appreciate this movie – and the character of Napoleon – even more. Deb is the one who should’ve asked Napoleon for forgiveness. She knew the type of person Napoleon was, but chose to believe Uncle Rico, who doesn’t seem like a trustworthy person throughout the film. But Napoleon doesn’t get angry at her. He doesn’t throw it in her face or make her feel worse about it. He knows the person to be angry with is Uncle Rico.
I hope I can continue trying to recognize the lies my thoughts get consumed with, ridding myself of those thoughts, and, I never thought I’d say this, being more like Napoleon Dynamite.
