From the moment the rugged, half-shaved, grubby, beautifully-sleek man grabbed that magical statue and sprinted for the head of the dark, damp, bat-ridden cave, I was in love with Indiana Jones.
My first movie hero. And we all know that first loves last forever.
Of course it probably helped that Harrison Ford was the best looking man alive at the time. I have my standards! But it was adventure and courage that pulled me effortlessly into what is still to me one of the best opening sequences in a film, ever.
Indiana J was about risk and humor and vulnerability and full-living.
On Monday, I saw Raiders of the Lost Ark at a business meeting. Yes, in a conference room! I had the great pleasure hear about the journeys of more sleekly-dressed people who had taken an adventure together over the last 18 months. How it felt to go from there to here. The ones who had done it with openness, risk and full-life exploration showed a power and connection between them that I found nearly humbling. You can build something - even in the distanced, professional world - so beautiful and valuable that it will change your perspective, build you up, and thereby last. I am proud to have been a small part of the catalyst for that.
The power, it occurred to me, lies in the deeper understanding that grows when you are so committed to a quest that you make yourself vulnerable.
Nearly every great adventure needs the support of others. To reach a treasure chest, you share things that might put you at risk. Not risk of death like for IJ. Risk of more scary daily things like looking silly, or giving the other person too much control, or losing your position.
Shared with some instinct and maturity, openness may be exactly the quality we need to find our jewels in the dark cave. Someone asked me recently if I was open to love. I hesitated. I think the real trick is to be open to life.
It starts there.
And then for sure it helps a lot when a a nice strong Indiana Jones goes into that dark, scary, bat-ridden cave first sometimes and gives you the push you need to run like hell when you get so close to beauty that you are afraid to move in that moment of vulnerability.
A hand that grabs yours just when you sense the next steps could bring the walls crumbling down in your wake.
That is the moment of real magic.
Indiana Jones & Jill. ;)