Ever since The LEGO® Group began producing their trademark interlocking blocks back in 1949, the toys have grown to become a global childhood staple. In recent years the brand has extended beyond traditional block sets as a multimedia platform—including franchise-themed LEGOs (such as Star Wars and DC Comic superheroes, among others), videogames, television series, and now a full feature-length, big-screen adventure. However, in The LEGO Movie, the world isn’t saved by superhero do-gooders like Superman and Batman; instead, the fate of LEGO-kind falls to everyman construction worker, Emmet (voiced by Chris Pratt)—who has been dubbed “The Special” by a force beyond his understanding. After spending the majority of his life attempting to fit in, listening to pop music, and drinking expensive coffee, Emmet’s unremarkable existence is turned upside down. One night he stumbles upon “The Kragle,” a mysterious tool, which according to prophecy can end the reign of Lord Business (played by Will Ferrell).

Finding the Special Within

Lord Business is a tyrannical dictator, obsessed with erasing creativity and individual expression from the LEGO Universe. It is up to Emmet, along with the heroic Master Builders (LEGO people who are free to create whatever they want) to stop him. Yet, when it becomes clear that Emmet isn’t like most Master Builders, many of the heroes begin to doubt his credibility and outright reject him as “The Special.” Armed with renewed purpose and a desire to protect the LEGO Universe, Emmet learns to embrace his own unique gifts, discovering there is no one single “Special.” Every LEGO person has been provided with talents, skills, and passions that make them capable of doing (and creating) amazing things—especially when working with others (and a set of instructions) for the sake of a greater good. Like Emmet, it’s easy to look at other people for a model of whom we could be and what we should do with our lives. After all, if we can fit in, we don’t have to risk the challenges that come with standing out or rocking the boat—but we are not supposed to hide away who we truly are just to be accepted by the in crowd. We are called to a larger purpose.

An Awesome Faith

God created each of us with special intent, and to that end, equipped us with unique gifts. Understandably we don’t always know where to start or what we can become, but by growing in confidence, by rejecting outside pressures to conform, and by embracing who we truly are inside, we are positioned to do awesome things. Our Creator sees into our hearts, loving us for whom we are, accepting and celebrating what is inside us. If we hide what makes us special, how can we ever align our lives with God’s intended purpose? As stated in Matthew 5:14- 15: “You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house.” We are faced with a lifechanging choice: Suppress our interests, passions, and gifts so that we can go unnoticed in a culture of conformity—or embrace our differences, celebrate them with others, and accept God’s plan for our lives without hesitation.

This article is also published as part of LinC, a weekly digital resource for youth small groups and Sunday school classes. The complete study guide can be purchased and downloadedhere.