Editor’s Note: Fr. Luke Daghir reflects on the movie “Field of Dreams.”
“If you build it, he will come.” Some may be thinking: “Isn’t the quote ‘if you build it, they will come?’” This is one of the most misquoted lines in movie history. The quote is, “If you build it, he will come.”
The 1989 movie Field of Dreams includes a remarkable scene that can help us to understand the spiritual life further. But first, let’s look at the storyline and how this movie has re-entered into today’s culture.
Field of Dreams is about an Iowa farmer named Ray (Kevin Costner) who hears a voice saying, “If you build it, he will come.”
Ray then builds a baseball field on his farm, and the ghosts of great players arrive from the surrounding cornfield. Only a few people can see the ghost players, as faith is needed.
The remarkable scene, Field of Dreams—Playing Catch, can help us further understand the spiritual life. This scene can be found on YouTube. In my opinion, it is the most important moment of the movie. Ray (the Iowa farmer who built the field) meets his dad, who is a catcher.
The two shake hands, and Ray doesn’t tell his dad that he is his son at first. Ray is not ready yet, as he is still carrying some anger from his teenage years of being pushed too hard by his dad to play baseball. Ray’s dad died when Ray was 17. The viewer is left wondering if Ray’s dad already knows Ray is his son. Ray’s wife and daughter decide to give them time to talk.
Ray and his dad talk about the beauty of Iowa and heaven. Ray is nearly speechless because he has been allowed to speak with his dad, whom he never thought he would see again. When the conversation ends, Ray walks away from his dad and turns around. It is Ray’s heart that turns back to his dad. Ray then asks, “Hey, Dad, you want to have a catch?” Ray’s dad then says, “I’d like that.” The two play catch together. Then comes the famous final scene, which depicts hundreds of cars stretching out across the Iowa horizon.
As Ray and his dad play catch, no words are exchanged. They smile at each other. In other words, a son and dad are just playing catch—giving and receiving. A healthy relationship with God looks like Ray and his dad playing catch. God delights when one asks Him, “Hey, do you want to have a catch? Do you want to spend time together in prayer—simply enjoying each other’s presence?”
Field of Dreams teaches us an important spiritual lesson: when a son asks his dad to play catch, the father delights in the offer. God delights in us praying to Him, similar to how a dad delights in a game of catch.
God knows that His children take delight when He asks, too. Look for the promptings of God to “play catch with you” in the upcoming week and respond like Ray’s dad: “I’d like that.” When playing catch the next time, lift your heart and mind. In other words, turn that backyard into a Field of Dreams.
+ Fr. Luke Daghir