The Importance of Reality: Inspired by Ready Player One

 

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Preface

    Welcome! Some of you are here because you found my page and you like reading. Perhaps you also enjoyed Ready Player One, as either a movie or a book, or both. I have as of the writing of this only seen the movie, but may well read the book someday. Others of you came here out of curiosity, from Facebook where I gave a relatively brief review of the movie and shamelessly plugged my account here on Tablo. If you are the latter, then you already know that the topic I am focusing on here is the central theme of the movie, and also ties into some major spoilers. You have all now been warned. From there I will be discussing how that core theme is relevant to our world today, and even add a spiritual layer of importance to it, that I hope you will at least consider, even if you do not care to much for it. Yes, that theme is reality, as the title implies, and I hope you get some good insight into just how important it really is!

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The Third Reality: Virtual

    In order to best illustrate the purpose of this essay, I am going to work backwards through the three realities and there relevance, as well as how they relate to each other. The first of these is the last to be made, virtual reality. Humanity has always been fascinated with creating there own worlds, or "what if?" scenarios. As a result fiction was invented. From the great myths of old, to today's VR gaming systems, man has been creating new ways to enter strange and unique worlds in our minds. One could read a book, watch a movie, listen to a song, or even play a game (on a board, screen, or with their imaginations). All of these activities would at least temporarily transport the users to places that they could not go in the real world.

    What is so important about virtual reality beyond mere escapism? Well, watching Ready Player One got me thinking that it is a great way to appreciate what you actually have, by examining what your life could be like with more or without. Sure it is fun to fantasize, but getting caught up in that impossible fantasy can be very unhealthy, especially if it comes at the expense of ones even acknowledging reality ever again. It can take you away from everything and everyone you love. On the flip side, it can also take you away from everything you hate, or do not want to deal with. Yeah, but at a certain point, it is best to return and deal with it. Perhaps the fantasy helps you find a way to do so. Perhaps it gives you time to clear your head, so you can approach the problem in a better way than you might have otherwise. Escapism has a place, but it cannot become an end all be all. Nothing beats real life connections with others at the end of the day, and hopefully our journeys to fictional lands teach us to value the real lands more. What we experience outside of reality certainly effects our views, and even our lives. These in turn effect our choices, which can effect the lives of others as well. Maybe someone who has had different journeys than we have can benefit from where we have been, both in our lives and in stories. Furthermore, fiction can sometimes pose interesting solutions to real world problems, whether of a personal or more widespread nature.

    Steven Spielberg's film, Ready Player One, certainly addresses an issue that affects everyone, rich and poor alike. It would be difficult to imagine anyone who has not heard a story, or found a way to release there minds from current events. The movie discusses what leaving our reality can do to us, especially if it is over indulged in. Essentially, it warns against becoming lost in what could become an amusing blissful joyride, especially if you put a lot into it, and your avatar dies. In the film it is hinted at that people have lost their desire to live, once their in-game character lost everything in the Oasis (the fictional VR world in the story). It is really kind of scary, especially since something similar could actually happen in our world. People enjoy reading, watching, playing, etc. If however, our means by which to do all of those things suddenly disappeared, the sad truth is that some of us would see no point in remaining. That kind of dedication to fantasy is unhealthy. Yes, all of these forms of entertainment can be good, but they can all be replaced, or even theoretically done away with, as they are just forms of someone's creativity that ought to be connecting us better to reality anyway.

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The Second Reality: Our's

    Next, I would like to discuss our own reality and how even it points to something greater. Here on earth, we get to enjoy various marvelous experiences. We can hike, climb, swim, and explore nature in several different ways. Additionally, we can eat, drink, laugh, sing, and dance both on our own, and with each other. There are more examples, but I am sure it is clear what I am getting at. Any of these things can be done in stories written, or conjured by anyone. And yet, all of them are so much more meaningful in person. They much more directly (instead of indirectly) impact our lives. By doing things, or making choices, we can influence one another as well. Each of us is who we choose to be, not what we read we could be on Mars with an alien's body, etc.

    Every experience on earth either brings us closer to to each other, or isolates us from one another. Sometimes we are forced to make decisions in difficult situations, where it seems as though we will never be close to anyone ever again. Staying on top of things, and never losing hope in how we are never truly alone, helps us get through any challenge. Whether it be memories of good times, honest efforts to return to our own former states of life, or charting a new course out of the mess we find ourselves, there is always one person we can count on (other than ourselves). That Person, or Trinity of Persons rather, is God. Yes, attaining a link to, or remaining linked with the Lord through prayer is incredibly integral to our soundness and peace. He is the rock we can always stand on.

    Before I complete my segue to the First Reality, I want to share a little of myself that helps illustrate my prior paragraph's conclusion. I personally pray pretty regularly. Sometimes my heart is not in it as much as it should be, and the prayers in accord do not do much of anything. Other times I have been so grateful for something that has happened in my life, or so in need of help to overcome a great difficulty, that I have revelations that come to me, seemingly out of nowhere, and they comfort me. If my prayer began joyous, then it is redoubled. If my prayer began in anger, or sorrow, then gradually the care of Lord quenches the tears and brightens my mood. Throughout my life, I have had episodes. In my case that means depression. Thankfully, these instances have never been too extreme, but they sure drained me. My family would notice, my friends would notice, and of course the reality of the situation eventually dawned on me as well. I am not sure what caused every episode (though I have some ideas that are not exactly relevant to this essay), but I would never have left any of them if it were not for prayer. Not once could I really pinpoint when I started falling. Likewise, I never really know when I am getting better either. Both are so gradual. The latter seems impossible once the former has happened, and yet here I am. I am glad to say that as of the writing of this, I am depression free, and I have God to thank for that. Goodness knows I could not have pulled through on my own. Our reality, and my experiences in it have certainly made me value God very much.

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The First Reality: God's

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