Avatar: The Annoyance of the Call

The credit for this discovery goes to my dad, who recognized and then vocalized it to honor my love of allegories.

Jake Sully had no purpose. This fact practically oozes from his every motion from the moment we meet him; he's jumping at the chance for a "fresh start". He's only on Pandora because of the death of his brother, and that doesn't negate the fact that everything he once had is lost and that his future must be bleak. His family is dead, and he is trapped in a wheelchair.

Finding his destiny - his future, his calling - is the last thing on his mind. He's on a strange planet, with a strange girl, and he's watching his back as he experiences a world unlike anything he's ever known. Together, they traipse through a blacklit jungle; he's intrigued, but he's also lost and desperate.

Finally, Neytiri stops him and tells him to return, and then something happens. The "pure spirits," the seeds of Eyra, descend towards them. Neytiri freezes, in awe of what deserves respect in her world, but Jake does no such thing. After a curious perusal of the serene, airborne jellyfish, he begins to feel mobbed and tries to bat one away.

Neytiri grabs his arm, and then his other arm as he continues the defense. "No."

The seeds of Eyra descend upon him. They cover his arms and head, bobbing gently. And then they fly away, leaving him confused and Neytiri shocked.

As the movie progresses, we realize that they are more or less the physical signs of Eyra, the deity of the Na'vi. And we - and Jake - realize something that Neytiri knew at once: their alighting upon Jake was a sign of Eyra's choosing. Jake was called by Eyra. His life's purpose was on Pandora.

He batted them away.

How many times has God and His purpose for your life come knocking at your door? How many times has it seemed an annoyance, or perhaps something darker, a pit of despair? How many times have you batted away the very thing that would take you where you are supposed to be?

It wasn't a loud voice on Pandora. The tree of Eyra didn't suddenly quiver or get struck with lightening when Jake Sully approached. No, it was simpler than that. It was odd, floating, little jellyfish that showed a particular interest in an avatar.

It's not a loud voice from heaven here, either. It could be something your best friend said. It could be something that a stranger said. It could be a traffic jam, or a death in the family. It could be that one person who won't leave you alone; it could be that one dream, that one thought, that won't leave you alone.

Take heed before you bat it away. It may lead to your destiny.