Limitless Humanity

In the movie Limitless, Eddie, a struggling writer--struggling with finances, writer's block, relationships, and a decent haircut--takes a new pill that allows him to access all parts of his brain, rather than the small percentage humans currently use. Bam! He writes his novel in four days, and his editor can't put it down. Then he decides that he no longer wants to be a writer. He wants to do something bigger, something more important.

He goes to Wall Street.

And he conquers. With a loan from a questionable Russian thug (where else would you get quick cash?), he makes oodles of money, awes the suits, and wins an audience with the top investor in the nation.

On his quest to become one of the most powerful men in the States, he does some questionable things--unethical, illegal, and, one might argue, inhuman acts.

In other words, the more of the human brain he accesses, the less human he becomes.

The pills, unsurprisingly enough, lead to addiction, disease, and, for others who have also taken them, death. Eddie's new associations threaten his life and his girlfriend's life. His unsatiable desire for power brings him to rock bottom, on the precipice of the balcony of his high-rise apartment, ready to take his own life rather than let someone else take it.

At this point in the movie, one expects an acknowledgement of our own capability for corruption, that only in contentment can we find true joy. As Christians, we might add that the only way to become truly human is to allow Christ to do his transforming work and live in the power of the Holy Spirit. At the very least, one might expect a nod toward the use of such potential for humanistic endeavors--alleviating the pain and suffering of others--as a better way over harnassing this power for self.

Spoiler alert. Neither happen. Instead, Eddie manages to get himself out of a detrimental situation and return to his powerful life. (He runs for mayor.) I won't go into the disappointment in the plot itself--all the neat bows and unexplained lines. The disappointment in its themes far more occupy my mind.

Is this what it means to be human? To consume materials and pursue power for self at all costs, with no regard for others, even those whom you supposedly love? Limitess leads us to believe that true fulfillment comes only when you get to the top and crush not only your competition but also those who helped you get there in the first place. Accessing your full potential does not make the world a better place (or, as Christians would term it, contribute to God's kingdom work). It gives you more stuff.

Further, the arts are apparently only for those losers with messy apartments and messier hair who can't get their lives together. They do not offer fulfillment, although having a best seller is a pretty cool belt notch.

The biblical perspective tells us that though we don't access our full potential because of the Fall, Christ wants to make us more human, and as we become more human, we become more Christlike, which means becoming more loving, compassionate, and serving. God redeems us so that we recover our humanity, we regain the ability to embrace our mandate to cultivate the earth--to cultivate materials, words, musical notes, business ideas, and create.

Limitless seems like a movie intent on thumbing its nose at someone, at the businessman who makes more money, perhaps, or the editor who rejected a manuscript, or the girlfriend who ended the relationship. I am a genius, Limitless claims. I am smarter than you. Humanity competes, and I win, even if it doesn't seem like it now.

Wall Street may not recognize me. New York City may never elect me mayor. But I'd take God's version of limitless humanity, a version that fosters mutual encouragement and community, love and creativity. In this space, I cultivate.

Heather A. Goodman cultivates words, music, and the occasional pie.

Comments

[Glynn]

There's a reason why "no other gods before me" is the first commandment. Apart from God, we strive to turn ourselves into gods -- the creation worships itself, not the creator.

Thought-provoking post, Heather.

[Jeanne Damoff]

Good word, Heather. This reminds me of a recent conversation in which some Christians I know were bemoaning the fact that evil men often succeed and appear to have no problems while Christians who love and serve God suffer. They chalked it up as one of life's mysteries and the by-product of a fallen world.

But I'm not so sure. If the highest good of man is to be conformed to the image of Christ, then the suffering Christian is the one truly blessed and the "flourishing" evil man has simply been left to his empty belief that the selfish shallows of life are all there is. To go deep with God -- deep into humanity as He created it to be -- is to truly live, not only in preparation for eternity, but also with fullness of joy and abundance of purpose right now.

Thanks for sharing. (Want to share some of that pie, too?)

Love, Jeanne