The Tree of Life

In scene 1, The Two Ways, we're introduced to the O'Briens of the 1950's Waco, Texas.  The first voice we hear is that of Jack who not only introduces us to the film, but to it's grand premise of navigating one's way through life.  The following is not so much a telling of story, but one of impression as we witness life from the intercellular to the interstellar.  Interestingly juxtaposed to these images is the very slight narration of our characters as they deal with life's questions big and small as related to our God who clearly stands as creator and sustainer of all things.

Luke 24:7

⁷That the Son of Man must be given over into the hands of sinful men (men ^[a]whose way or nature is to act in opposition to God) and be crucified and on the third day rise [^[b]from death].

Ephesians 4:4-7

 ⁴[There is] one body and one Spirit--just as there is also one hope [that belongs] to the calling you received--

    ⁵[There is] one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

    ⁶One God and Father of [us] all, Who is above all [Sovereign over all], pervading all and [living] in [us] all.

    ⁷Yet grace (God's unmerited favor) was given to each of us individually [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ's [rich and bounteous] gift.

In scene 10, Drowning, we witness the passing of one of Jack's contemporaries Taylor.  Following this disturbing display, we begin to hear Jack's questioning of God and his goodness.  It shouldn't be much of a stretch to recall personal experiences, imagery or maybe even questions that we have either once had or currently now have.  When these times come it should direct us to the very timely and wise council of scripture and scripture bound and lead individuals to help maintain and marshal our faith.

Psalm 34:7-9

^7[a]The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe] and each of them He delivers.^{(A)
    8}O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him.^{(B)
    9}O fear the Lord, you His saints [revere and worship Him]! For there is no want to those who truly revere and worship Him with godly fear.
2 Corinthians 5:21
For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [ endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].


In scene 20, "They're Closing the Plant.", Mr. O'Brien delivers the news that all he has worked for has been for nought.   He secretly confesses to us that God's handiwork had shown all about him and regretfully has missed it.  Although leading to reconciliation with Jack, it leaves us with no solutions to continue the future with. 
Romans 1:20-25

 ²⁰For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification],^{(B)
    21}Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and ^[c]godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened.
    ²²Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves].
    ²³And by them the glory and majesty and excellence of the immortal God were exchanged for and represented by images, resembling mortal man and birds and beasts and reptiles.
    ²⁴Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their [own] hearts to sexual impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves [abandoning them to the degrading power of sin],
    ²⁵Because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever! Amen (so be it).