I was watching Eight Legged Freaks yesterday, a movie that came out in 2002 but could have been from the 70’s judging by the special effects. Predictable plotline, boring acting, really demented spiders (who hides behind an old man’s chair waiting till his friend comes in to pounce on the guy?), definitely not a recommended movie. But I did get something out of it.

The whole premise is a kid who finds out that his friend’s spiders have been toxically infected with elephantitis (or whatever it was that made them huge) and are going to wreak havoc on their little town. The problem is, he hasn’t seen them yet exactly, and no one will believe his story. He has a piece of a spider’s leg, but that actually makes people even more skeptical of him – “Oh, that’s just an old cactus, son. Turn off that blasted TV and stop imagining things.”

The kid finally convinces a few people of his findings…of course, being attacked by a large tarantula helped prove his point.  They attempt to go on the radio to alert the town.  “Everyone, please get your guns and arm yourselves.  We are about to be invaded by…umm…giant spiders…”

Perhaps the only slightly humorous part of the movie was seeing the looks on people’s faces who were tuned in.  Completely blank.  You could tell they weren’t buying it.  And no matter what the radio told them, there was no way they were gonna believe something so weird and crazy.

I guess someone should have told them they were in a movie, cuz anything can happen in a movie right?  But real life isn’t like that. People don’t hear about something that someone else saw and suddenly become completely convinced that everything has got to change….right?

Well, what would you do if you actually saw “the giant spider”?  What if you saw something so completely outside your grid that you can barely believe it, yet can’t deny that’s what you saw?  And what if it actually mattered that other people know what you’ve seen?  People who also would have no grid for it?  How do you tell someone like that the things you’ve seen and heard?

Those are the questions we’ve found ourselves asking more and more over the past few years.  Dave and I have both had experiences (like these, for example) completely beyond the box of our normal worldview.  And yet, when I think of how big the world is and how small a place we know is, how could it be any different?  Out of all the people in the world and all there is to know, how much do we really know?  What were the chances that we were born into a paradigm that understood most things correctly?  Think about it!

I’ve begun to realize that the best way to show someone the things you’ve seen is not to just tell them about it, it’s to take them with you.  Head knowledge only goes so far, but no one can ever be argued out of an experience with something.  That’s why it’s our desire and prayer to use this website not only to share, but to connect with people.

In the end of the movie, the kid was a hero because he shared what he’d found.  In the same way, If you’ve had an experience outside your box, an unconventional reality, don’t be afraid to ask the big questions about what the implications might be.  It’s irresponsible to do anything else.  Hold on to that thing until you’ve found an answer and shared it.  Send us a message if you have a story you want to get out there.  Lives may depend on it!  The things we’ve seen and heard are actually quite a bit more exciting than monster spiders, but they also mean a lot is at stake.  So let’s keep on the path that actually leads somewhere until we find ourselves living like we’re thinking right now.