Reebok: Your Move...or not

Who can keep up with the "pop" in popular culture? I can't. Instead, I stash away items of interest in both electronic and paper files until a rainy day.

Today's selection is a Reebok commercial I saw back in June during the Stanley Cup Finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings.



The ad was part of Reebok's "Your Move" campaign, and it caught my attention for two reasons:

1. You have to pay attention to follow what's happening. I like that.

2. "But where you end up...is entirely up to you." I don't like that.

Sports commercials often play this Just Do It card, and while it might pump the adrenaline a bit and offer some inspiration, it only speaks to a few folks in the world. Mario Lemiuex and Sidney Crosby are two of the best hockey players in history. The second little boy on the carpet can dream all day, but chances are he'll never get any closer to NHL ice than a seat behind the glass.

I hate to cast a cloud, but people really can't do whatever they want. We can't reach all of our dreams. We can't win every battle or overcome every obstacle. And that's fine. We are, in one way or another, wholly dependent creatures.

I don't suppose it's wrong to broadcast a wide message of inspiration like this - it's bound to hit someone. (And the opposite message would be a disaster: "Don't even go there, kid. You'll be lucky if you make the JV team. Your Move. Reebok.") But is there a better alternative?

Further questions to consider: Does a commercial like this lead to disillusionment? Is it honest? Where does submission regarding the direction of our lives come in to play? 

Related post: Going Pro

10 comments:

Anonymous,  October 30, 2009 at 12:42 PM  

where you end up is entirely up to you.

with different video, this statement could be entirely true.

Anne Lang Bundy October 30, 2009 at 3:54 PM  

At the ACFW conference I attended in September, we were challenged to write down five impossible goals with the faith God could bring them to pass.

God can do anything. But based on my past track record, I'm hesitant to define what I'd want from life. I prefer the Lord's plan to mine, and am content to dream about and work for that for which He gives me a vision. Rather than being passive or lazy, it invites active engagement with God's perfect will.

BTW, I fully appreciate nAncY's remark.

Unknown October 30, 2009 at 4:56 PM  

Anne, I hear you. I'm not sure I want life to be entirely up to me. I mean, I think I do, but then hindsight so often says, "Wow, that was close. I'm glad I didn't get what I thought I wanted."

To you and nAncY about the commercial's statement being true elsewhere: At first I agreed, but I'm not sure. So much happens beyond our control. We are dependent beings, indeed, perhaps completely on God (accounting for theological position) or perhaps also on the actions of others, natural forces, health, income, social settings....

Either way, I do trust enough that God cares and wants my life to make a difference in others' lives. So I side (hesitatingly) with St. Ignatius:

"Thus, as far as we are concerned, we should not want health more than illness, wealth more than poverty, fame more than disgrace, a long life more than a short one, and similarly for all the rest, but we should desire and choose only what helps us more towards the end for which we are created."

Anne Lang Bundy October 30, 2009 at 10:39 PM  

Sam, I can get completely on board with Ignatius, without hesitation. He doesn't say desire illness more than health (etc.), but only not to have a preference. I can do this because I completely trust my Lord Who loves me.

The words sound reminiscent of Proverbs 30:7-9:

Two things I request of You
(Deprive me not before I die):
Remove falsehood and lies far from me;
Give me neither poverty nor riches—
Feed me with the food allotted to me;
Lest I be full and deny You,
And say, "Who is the LORD?"
Or lest I be poor and steal,
And profane the name of my God.

Unknown November 2, 2009 at 1:54 PM  

Great Scripture reference, Anne.

My hesitation comes with the potential of hardship. See, I want health more than hardship, wealth more than poverty, etc., not the opposite, and not both equally.

Yet it's still my prayer because I know it's a wise prayer.

Bradley J. Moore November 3, 2009 at 5:51 AM  

Very intriguing. I think it plays to a yearning in all of us for a dream. The dreams are, I would say, inspired by God in us. But to see them through is a life-long process that constantly checks our reality against our goals. Nothing we can do except hard work, persistence, and dependence on God. So, is anything possible? No. But we can tap in to possibilities for ourselves that are truly astounding.
(I bet you couldn't imagine yourself doing what you are doing today when you were a teenager?)

Unknown November 3, 2009 at 6:41 PM  

Brad, as a teenager I thought I was going to be an architect. Ha!

Michele Corbett November 5, 2009 at 2:02 PM  

You guys are being so deep that I hate to ruin it, but I saw this today and thought of you, Sam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXqHfHN9dJs

Enjoy!

Unknown November 7, 2009 at 10:21 AM  

Michelle, you really shouldn't have. I thought I was over the Snuggie temptation, but alas, the pop version preys upon my weakness.

Must.resist.weezer.snuggie...

Michele Corbett November 9, 2009 at 12:47 AM  

I think I'm going to ask for one for Christmas and it's all your fault.

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