You have to assume that Heaven is paradise, and you have to assume that paradise is Maui.
I was there last month for the Maui Film Festival, and it is paradise.
If the apples of Eden were forbidden fruit that brought knowledge, then the free-flowing pineapples of Maui will make you foolish. Without exercising appropriate judgment, I experienced what nearly became my first pineapple-induced diabetic coma.
Mitch Albom wrote a lovely book, The Five People You Meet in Heaven. His character meets five people who lead him to reflect on his life.
Well, I spent six days in heaven last month, and I’ll tell you who showed up: John Lasseter.
This digital pioneer is the new Walt Disney (sans any interest in Nazis). John is the CEO and brains behind Pixar Animation Studios, the dreamers who brought us Toy Story, Monsters Inc. and The Incredibles. I spotted him wandering down the road and stopped him for what became my first of five reflective conversations. It turns out he wasn’t even in Maui for the festival. He was just there with his family, vacationing.
“We love to snorkel,” he offered, whispering. “You know, Finding Nemo.”
A mogul, hero and family man – and also very funny. A wonderful start. I invited him to the screening of my film that night. Putting things delicately, I mentioned that Summerhood is a film for the whole family, but perhaps not to watch with your whole family – i.e., there’s kissing aplenty.
He was thrilled that I’d done animation work for Disney and DreamWorks, and we had colleagues in common. But in declining politely, he presented “vacation” in a way I hadn’t thought of before.
“It’s a lot like your Sabbath,” he explained. (I was being lectured on Shabbat by Walt Disney. Amazing. Simply amazing. In Hollywood, even the gentiles are Jews.)
“No phones, no computers, no interruptions,” he said, lifting up his trademark Hawaiian shirt – a splashy style he maintains even at the office – to reveal no cellphone.
“Just nature and family this weekend.”
He made a valid point. When it comes to cellphones and other wireless technology, just because we “can” all the time, doesn’t mean we “should” all the time.
I propose that chivalry is not dead, it just needs redefining: the new “open a door for a lady” is “leave your phone at home” when going on a date.
Despite my insatiable need to be available and connected, being “disconnected” is blissful, too. That night, I unplugged from the grid – and I met real human beings. I left my Star Trek gear at the hotel, and it was liberating. And this we knew already thousands of years ago. Remarkable. Nice job, Ten Commandments. Honour every form of the Sabbath I shall.
My film went on to win the audience award for best feature comedy, and I’m certain the feature will filter up to Mr. Lasseter through the cult following I hope to develop within his ranks. But the lesson I learned from him was more rewarding than any compliment he could offer.
When the people you pattern yourself after reveal the behavioral blueprints of their success, it’s a gift that informs the rest of your life. And that’s something you generally learn only from hindsight, in eternal Paradise. If you’d prefer an earlier taste, head to Maui. There’s more gold in the people than buried in the sand.
I think I also met Dennis Quaid, James Bond, some lady who survived an avalanche after being buried alive for 18 minutes, and a good masseuse.
But I can’t be sure, on account of all that pineapple.
So, as your own vacations approach, make the most by taking the least with you. Unplug. And make that clear to your friends, relatives and workmates before you go, so no one is anxious or hurt.
You’ll be more refreshed for everything and everyone that you’ll come back to.