One of my favorite childhood movies was Homeward Bound. A tale of some pets who got separated from their owners and wrongly assumed they had been permanently left behind. Not to spoil it, but two dogs and a cat go on an adventure of their lives to reunite with the family they thought they had lost. They go through peril and pain, while persisting to find those they loved, while wondering if that love was reciprocated.. Shadow, an older golden retriever, acts as the stoic, voice of reason for the trio of animals and at the very end of the movie, something incredibly difficult happens. As the pets come to the realization that they are mere steps away from their beloved family again, Shadow falls into a giant muddy pit. It was unexpected, unrelenting, and deep. The movie shows him attempting to claw his way up over and over again, only to slide back into the muddy abyss. He tells his fellow animal friends to go on and leave him behind as he realizes his unquestionable fate. The scene is hard to watch and even as I write this, I have tears in my eyes. All the trials they went through to get to that point seem in fact, pointless. 

As I reflect back on my life, I realize that I am more like these animals than I would like to think. We, as humans, are born thinking we can do all things and handle all the troubles we will face. We crave independence and here in America we are told, “you can do anything,” or “you can be anything you want to be” from a very young age. All the while, our souls are restless because we are seeking someone to love us, to see us, to want us. We scramble and claw our way through life until we find ourselves in a pit. This pit is real because death and destruction are imminent. 

But, all the paths that lead us to the pit are important nonetheless. Those paths are reminders of where we could have gone and who we could have been. Because it’s in the pit that we come face to face with our fate. Our lowliness. Our helplessness. Our brokenness. Our defeat. 

And yet, there is One who redeems our life from the pit. Psalm 103 says “He redeems your life from the Pit; he crowns you with faithful love and compassion. He satisfies you with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagle” (v4-5).

It’s at the bottom of that wretched pit that we realize that we actually can’t save ourselves. No clawing or fighting will gain us our desired exit. And then, only then, will we find our salvation. Our redemption is found when the One who loves us most lifts us up out of that pit, places our feet on solid ground, while placing a crown on our head. We trade the pit for a crown. The crown given to us anoints us with the weight of our Maker’s love and compassion towards us. We wipe the dirt off our feet as we remember where we came from. We reflect on who we were and stand tall knowing we have been chosen by the King of the universe as His child. We are seen. We are loved. We are wanted.

The crown brings satisfaction and the realization of what goodness actually is. God is the goodness- He alone is the standard of all that is good. The crown strengthens us to learn more about the One who saved us- the good One. God doesn’t pull us out of the pit just to save us, He pulls us out because He wants us with Him. He desires us to find our home in Him. Our safety in Him. Our belonging in Him. 

At the end of Homeward Bound, in the very last scene when all hope seemed lost, Shadow comes limping out of the forest toward the tear-striken faces of his family. They thought he didn’t make it. Though his body was old and weathered, his footing was sure as he youthfully galloped to the ones who loved him. That is how I picture us limping toward God after coming face-to-face with the choice to trust Him in that pit. That is how I picture the prodigal tottering his way toward his father, who has open arms and a warm smile on his face.

In the end, we are all bound for home. The question is, for which home are you bound? With your Maker for eternity? Or eternally separated from Him? That pit is where we make the grave choice- literally. And when we reach the end of ourselves, He is there to crown us.