(5 out of 5)

"A person's a person, no matter how small."

Horton, a kindly elephant, hears what he "believes" is a cry of help from people he cannot see, who live on a speck that is floating through the sky. Horton decides he will act on what he "believes," rather than what he sees. This is the basis of the story behind, "Horton Hears a Who." This animated movie moved-me. Anyone who is a Christian can relate to the idea of hoping in things unseen - and moving forward - by faith - towards some greater cause; in our case: the cause of Christ. We know there are people who are lost and don't even know they are lost - and you have their means of redemption: the message of Christ - the hope of glory. But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.

This movie has great humor, beautiful and surreal "Suess-ish" settings and wonderful animation. Adults can enjoy the movie as much as the kids because the plot and characterization is intelligently done. The movie is completely clean - and challenges many "hyper-Christian," ideas of isolation, faith, fear, leadership, and doubt. Some good questions that arise from this movie:

1) How "much" should we protect our kids from ideas that are contrary to our own? Could it be there are things we don't understand that are none-the-less true?

2) What is the danger of allowing "different," voices to be heard - and how do we be good stewards of the children we have been given - while at the same time leaving room for the Holy Spirit to speak in "different" ways, or reveal new things?

3) What does it look like to walk by "faith" rather than by sight?

4) How do we as leaders not compromise what we know as truth - even when everyone around us is telling us we are crazy?

One of the most important characters - the kangaroo-antagonist - in this story is coming against Horton's "beliefs," and trying to get people to gang up against him. Horton's beliefs though cause him to fight for what he knows is truth - even suffering persecution and ridicule. But Horton has great faith in what he hopes for and believes - and ultimately he wins the day through much work and effort on his part.

May we be willing to fight for one another and sacrifice for one another even if the "one another," we are fighting for are people that others do not normally see: the poor, people of different backgrounds either economically or ethnically. Will we see ourselves and our own existence as the center of the Universe, or is there someone larger than ourselves calling out to us - and offering help to those who may not even know they are helpless? Or is our existence a part of God's plan for reaching those whom he loved, foreknew, and was calling to himself?

May we hear the cries of those God is wishing to reach, and thereby hear God himself.

~Pastor Ben