By G.P. Avants

 

The Infinity Wars. There isn’t a breathe wasted. We are thrown right into the action. Isn’t that what the Avengers and the galaxy tried to prepare for?  If you haven’t seen the film yet, then please don’t keep reading. I was the last one of our God Among Geeks bloggers to see the movie, so it was struggling to not hear any spoilers. I even told my students they would get extra credit if they didn’t blurt out any information.

Then this past Sunday afternoon we all sat down ready to take in Infinity Wars. I think the thing that we already knew was the people were going to die. I had already prepared to lose some of my heroes and wondered how they would die. Would Iron man literally lose his head at the hands of Thanos? Was captain America torn apart by a stampeding Army. There was a touching scene with Tony and Peter Parker that had my fellow bloggers convinced that Spiderman would meet his demise. So, sadly Thanos’ obsession with the perfect balance of life and death had sucked us all in. Not the happiest of topics, but it is very much a part of life I wonder if we don’t try to think about much.

The film was a war waged by Death against life. In the comics Death and Thanos hatched a plan to balance out the universe by killing off half of its inhabitants.  Thanos took on twisted role as a savior for those who would survive the act.

We all watched  it all unfold and when Thanos flicked his fingers a plan went into motion. Half of the universe turned to dust, literally. One minute there is a battle field of victorious soldiers the next people started to breaking apart and became one with wind.  Good and evil faced their demise as the reaping began.

Facing death says a lot about a person. Bucky was humbled. The Black Panther was a comfort to his friend. Drax was surprised. Scarlet Witch accepted it with peace. Dr. Strange knew there was more coming. Young Peter Parker was frightened and uncertain. Nick Fury was not ready, but knew this was beyond him. Those left behind have to also deal with who is still standing and who is no more. There is a quite pause that gave them( and we the audience) a chance to process what just happened.

As we drove home from the movie my daughter had just finished playing The Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack. Then we heard the sound, Dust in the Wind. She commented that in the Marvel vein on using classic rock, this song would have really made the death of our heroes a more emotional moment. For isn’t it true that life is short, fleeting, and as fragile as dust. How we face death is just as important as how we face life. (That was a Star Trek Wrath of Khan quote, bit it’s true) Even heroes are tested by how well they face uncertain circumstances where it is very certain they will lose or ponder their end.

But should we? I am not talking about getting dark and Poeish with our poetry, or gothically cynical toward life in general. However, being aware of your own mortality now puts you in a different place and I think makes you appreciate the life you have. The older you get the more you see you aren’t a super hero. With that wisdom is a reminder that this life is not it. It is the tip of the iceberg.

 

Does failing and loss cripple you or does it strengthen your faith for the next steps ahead?

 

 

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