Iron Man continues to pull in incredible dollars at the box office. Now the slow selling Playstation game is even doing well. It seems Iron Man mania is sweeping not only the nation, but the world. I’m sure Robert Downey Jr. is pleased that he’s connected with such a blockbuster hit. After all, he’s someone who’s had his share of ups and downs throughout his somewhat rocky career. He’s a good actor, but unfortunately he fell into the trap of drugs and alcohol. But, with that behind him, maybe he’s opened a new chapter not only in his life, but also in his career.

Iron Man is a very strong movie. It gets off to a somewhat disjointed start, but in the end, it comes through with great special effects and a good story line. In a nutshell, without any spoilers here for those who have not seen the movie yet, Iron Man is created after Tony Stark, an arms dealer, has a change of heart and decides to right some of the wrongs his weapons company created. Of course this doesn’t go over very well with some inside the company, but this does not deter him from creating the Iron Man superhero.

Now I know what you’re thinking – How in the world can we find an encouraging message from a comic book hero? But here it is. In the middle of the movie Stark’s assistant asks him why he’s so determined to create Iron Man, even if it means he may die while trying to right his wrongs. In a somewhat off-handed comment, we discover a great truth. Downey Jr.’s character says, “Maybe this is why I didn’t die when I was kidnapped.” Wow! What an amazing statement. Tucked away in the middle of this sci-fi comic book hero come to life movie, we discover a statement about purpose and destiny.

Could it be Downey’s statement, via the character Tony Stark, speaks of purpose and destiny not only for Iron Man, but for himself as well? Who knows. But I do know this, the nugget of truth concerning purpose and destiny in the Iron Man movie is a strong message for anyone who hears it. It is true, we do all have a purpose and destiny. While we may not be a superhero, we can do our best to positively influence those around us.

A Fellow Sojourner,

Dr. Rus