I watched "The Matrix" for the first time since Marshall left a few nights ago. I have his Matrix collection, which includes the movie trilogy as well as the Animatrix and the making of films, etc. It took me a long time to get up enough bravery to make myself watch it just because of all of the memories I have of Marshall associated with the Matrix. He was entranced by it. There was just something about it that had enraptured him. He wore Dad's old black trench coat, got some Neo-looking sun glasses, and even researched getting Neo's boots from Airwalk. If my memory is correct (which it is often not), I think he even wrote a paper about the spiritual themes in the Matrix. I remember him researching it. His favorite Biblical motif was the battle between good and evil. He longed to be a part of that. Video games and movies were a way he could escape into that world that he wanted to fight in so badly. His favorite Christian band was Demon Hunter, and his favorite movies besides the Matrix were films like the Underworld, LOTR, Black Hawk Down (I love this movie and Derek has Marshall's copy but I haven't been able to bring myself to watch it yet), The Last Samurai, etc. Marshall took Kung Fu (like Neo) at one point and wanted to be a ninja. And sometimes when I think about Marshall's warrior heart, I think about what he must be doing in heaven right now. Now he is fighting the real battle. He is a soldier in the only true army. A soldier of heaven. A demon hunter. And I can't wait to join him.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
- Ephesians 6:12
