Questions, Quests, and Quarantines

aka "Frozen II and the Spiritual Life"

When Disney+ announced that "Frozen II" would be released early to the public due to the COVID-19 quarantines of 2020, I thought: "Hey, that's great for families." Second, I thought: "Hey, this means I can watch it!" 

I did not go to see the film in theaters since I was not convinced by trailers that it would be as stunning as the original. ("Frozen" has a special place in my heart since I (a) my sister and I both really liked it and connected with the characters, and (2) I saw it right before going to study abroad in Austria for a semester, so the movie itself and the music always take me back. Plus, that opening sequence - how could you not love that stunning montage?) 

But I have to say, I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed Frozen II! Naturally, this is because I saw a lot of deeper themes within the movie that have roots in Christian spirituality, which is (as you've probably guessed) what this post will be about. 

I started noticing these themes... 

in Olaf and Anna's first conversation in the movie. It starts off very comical, as Olaf comments that "change mocks us with her beauty" and then casually asks Anna (since she's "older and thus all-knowing"): "Do you ever worry about the notion that nothing is permanent?" 

As the first major musical number of the movie ("Some Things Never Change") starts, it becomes clearer what we'll see each of the characters representing and wrestling with in the rest of the movie. 

Olaf represents the childlike: he (we might say naively) trusts that someday he will understand, and, until then, he seems content to roll with whatever comes his way. 

Anna's focus is on not being alone, on staying close to the ones she loves both to protect them and because she feels safe and at home with them. She "relies on certain certainties," all of which are based on what the true, good, and beautiful. But we will also Anna's "certain certainties" challenged as the film goes on, which the song pre-empts as some of Anna's examples of things that stand firm actually are failing or falling around them. 

Meanwhile, Kristoff is wrestling with self-doubt as he faces the possibility of a major change in his relationship with Anna. He knows what he wants to do, but he wants to do it right and the pressure of getting it right is real. (Sven, as usual, is there for emotional support.) 

What about the Queen of Arendelle? Well, Elsa also expresses in this song a desire for things to stay the same because everything seems so good. But at the same time, she is experiencing a mysterious call that won't let her keep still. 

As the story begins, Elsa confides to Anna: "I just don't want to mess things up." But Anna reassures her saying: "When will you see yourself the way I see you?" By all accounts, it seems Elsa is doing well as Arendelle's new queen. In the previous song, we saw the people gathering in the square to celebrate a kind of Thanksgiving/harvest feast, the people all appear happy and satisfied, Elsa even uses her powers to create "ice toys" for the children. All seems to be well! 

But for Elsa, the mysterious call won't let her be, even after Anna reassures her. Cue the musical number!

Into the Unknown

Not much unlike "Let it Go" in Frozen, this song from Elsa's perspective is probably the most highlighted song of the movie. I admit, when I heard it, I was struck by the spiritual themes within. 

Elsa wakes to hear the call echoing through the castle, and she wrestles within herself. Part of her does not want to listen to the voice, resisting change. But she also can't help herself: she wants to know where the voice is coming from and where it's calling her to go. 

I can hear you but I won't

Some look for trouble while others don't

There's a thousand reasons I should go about my day

And ignore your whispers which I wish would go away.

You're not a voice

You're just a ringing in my ear

And if I heard you, which I don't

I'm spoken for I fear

Everyone I've ever loved is here within these walls

I'm sorry, secret siren, but I'm blocking out your calls

I've had my adventure, I don't need something new

I'm afraid of what I'm risking if I follow you

Into the unknown...

Almost instantly, I felt a personal connection with Elsa's words. As I've sought God's will and my vocation over the years, I've been Elsa in this moment. There's a constant back-and-forth within the self: a desire for things to stay the same (because after all, right here is, more or less, comfortable!), but at the same time a curiosity and draw to something more that God may be calling me to. I think this challenge is even more real when I know I've recently followed God's will to where I am now, but that question of "vocation" as it pertains to married, religious, or single life still hangs in the air. I love where I am right now; but maybe God has something more in mind.... Within the desire to know God's will, there's a lot of questioning that goes on, even in the midst of a lot of prayer: "Is this God's voice? Or is it my imagination? Or maybe it's a distraction from here and now, where my focus should be?" 

What do you want? 'Cause you've been keeping me awake

Are you here to distract me so I make a big mistake?

Or are you someone out there who's a little bit like me?

Who knows deep down I'm not where I'm meant to be?

Every day's a little harder as I feel my power grow

Don't you know there's part of me that longs to go…

Into the unknown?

...

Are you out there?

Do you know me?

Can you feel me?

Can you show me?

...

Where are you going?

Don't leave me alone

How do I follow you

Into the unknown?

At this point, I can't help but be reminded of Thomas Merton's prayer, where he says (which hopefully helps you breathe, if the "vocational confusion anxiety" has started to set in; don't worry, I get it): 

O Lord God,

I have no idea where I am going,

I do not see the road ahead of me,

I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,

And that fact that I think

I am following Your will

Does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe

That the desire to please You

Does in fact please You....

I still marvel when I listen to "Into the Unknown" at the depths of the searching soul that are expressed here. This is one of my favorite things about being Catholic - finding the One Who is Beauty in things that are beautiful, even if they're not "religious" in intent. 

Then...

When Elsa takes the first step in answering this call, things get a little chaotic. But as she opens up to people she trusts, she confesses her belief that whatever or whoever is calling her is good. She somehow knows this, in spite of rather dooming stories she and Anna have heard about the past. 

Our old friends the trolls make their first appearance here, and Pabbie informs the sisters that the fate of Arendelle rests on a wrong being righted. It is also in this moment we first encounter the theme: "When one can see no future all one can do is the next right thing." 

Would you believe we are only 20 minutes into this movie? Well it's true! There's so much here! But I'm going to pause here for now so we can all revel in the richness that we've found so far. 

Until next time, keep pursuing and encountering beauty.

The Itinerant Catechist