MOVIE MONDAY | Field of Dreams

In 1989, Field of Dreams, starring Kevin Costner, was released, and the heartwarming, sentimental baseball fairytale continues to live on as a classic sports movie.

IMDb.com summarizes the movie this way: “Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella is inspired by a voice he can't ignore to pursue a dream he can hardly believe. Supported by his wife, Ray begins the quest by turning his ordinary cornfield into a place where dreams can come true.”

Kevin Costner’s character, Ray, was a 36-year-old husband and father of a young girl, relying on his farmland to grow crops to support his family.

His life would take a dramatic turn when he began hearing a voice repeatedly say, "If you build it, he will come.”

Of course, there was initial confusion and disbelief as he tried to make sense of it. But as Ray stood in the middle of his crops, he gained clarity after seeing a vision of a baseball field in his cornfield, with Joe “Shoeless” Jackson in it.

Ray didn’t fully grasp why and still wondered if he was crazy, but he began to realize what he needed to do. He leaned heavily on his wife for confirmation and support.

In a pivotal scene, as he reflected on his life and whether to build a field, he also thought about his deceased father (their relationship was a key underlying element of the entire movie).

He told his wife, "By the time he was as old as I am now...he was ancient. He must have had dreams, but he never did anything about them. For all I know, he may have even heard voices, too... but he sure didn't listen to them.

"The man never did one spontaneous thing in all the years I knew him. I'm afraid of that happening to me... and something tells me this may be my last chance... to do something about it. I want to build that field. Do you think I'm crazy?”

His wife responded, “Yes. But I also think if you really feel you should do this...then you should do it.”

So, sure enough, he clears out his corn, builds the field, and then the ghosts of baseball’s past start showing up to play on his field. Others couldn’t believe what he was doing, and they also couldn’t see what he and his wife and daughter saw as they watched those players out on their field.

Throughout the movie, there were additional moments when Ray and his wife had the same dream, he heard the voice again, was told something he needed to hear by someone else, and had another vision as his journey with the baseball field continued. 

The voice used the phrases "Ease his pain" and "Go the distance,” while two characters told him “People will come.” 

Ray took what he heard seriously and continued pursuing what he believed were the next steps, and the movie shows him experiencing some wild situations.

Along the way, the field served as a place for former baseball players to experience one last at-bat or some level of redemption, but at the end of the movie, it allowed Ray to play catch one more time with his dad. It provided him the closure and peace he needed.

It's a fun, nostalgic sports movie that, in many ways, is outrageous, but at its core, is about a man being led to do something out of the ordinary that turns out to be rewarding for him and others. He realized he needed to act, and he went out and did it.

There is an inspiring parallel for us to consider today as followers of Jesus. We serve and love a God who leads and guides us on our journey. He doesn’t necessarily always speak with an audible voice, but He does reveal to us what He wants us to do in our lives, and as His followers, we know His voice.

Jesus says in John 10:27 (AMP), “The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me.”

Every day we can pray Psalm 143:8 (AMP): “Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for I trust in You. Teach me the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.”

We see throughout the Bible how God gave instructions to His people. He told Noah to build an ark, spoke to Moses in the burning bush, and told Jonah to go to Nineveh.

The Word of God, the Bible, is our foundation for knowing God’s heart and what He says. He also uses supernatural ways to get our attention by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we will do His will, pursue His plans, and accomplish His purposes. He wants to do incredible things in us and through us that are rewarding, fruitful, and a blessing for us and others. 

Sometimes He reveals simple phrases to us that we hear, and sometimes He gives us visions and dreams that show us what we need to do next. He’ll even speak through other godly and wise people.

So, what visions and dreams has God put on your heart and mind?

What do you need to do now?

What is God whispering to you?

What is the thought or feeling you can’t shake and know you need to do something about?

What are you trying to talk yourself out of that you know is the step you need to take?

Often, we see and hear what others can’t, as God calls us to take a step of faith that might seem outrageous, crazy, and wild to us and those around us. But if He’s making something clear to us, then we must be obedient.

As we consider what the Holy Spirit may be prompting us to do, let’s not quickly disregard it as “crazy” or allow fear to prevent us from “building the field." 

However, the important part we have to remember is that when we sense a strong prompting and can’t seem to shake a thought or feeling, we must pray, test, and confirm what we believe is coming from God, lines up with Scripture, is truly Holy Spirit-inspired, and isn’t just a crazy, selfish thought we made up. 

1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 (AMP) says, “Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit. Do not scorn or reject gifts of prophecy or prophecies [spoken revelations—words of instruction or exhortation or warning]. But test all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firmly to that which is good.”

Today, let's listen to the Holy Spirit and be led and guided by Him, trusting that God will equip us with everything we need to do His will and walk in faithful obedience.

Again, whenever we hear God clearly tell us to do something, we should do it!

I'm Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray that I would be still and quiet enough to hear Your voice. Please help me distinguish Your voice from all the others, and please give me confirmation and clarity to know when it’s a vision, a dream, or a prompting from the Holy Spirit. I pray You give me the confidence and faith needed to take the next step of obedience. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.