Cars

Winning isn't everything.

In our consumer driven society today, to win is the greatest thing ever. Winning itself has become our national pasttime. To win isn't a bad thing, but when the desire to win supercedes everything else, it can become an epidemic.

Cars, the Pixar film staring the voices of Owen Wilson (Lightning McQueen), Paul Newman (Doc Hudson), Bonnie Hunt (Sally), Larry the Cable Guy (Mater), among many others, is a film about many things about which we need reminding: to take life a bit slower; to stop and smell the roses; to never overlook the 'little' people; to respect those who have gone before us; and perhaps most importantly, that it's not about winning.

McQueen is the rookie sensation whose biggest dream in life is to win at the races. But in his rookie year, he ties for the big prize (The Piston Cup) and, to win it all, he has to race in a tiebreaker contest in California. On the way there, he and his driver doze off on the road; in so doing, he rolls off the highway into a little one-stoplight town called Radiator Springs.

While there, he learns some lessons in humility and friendship from the other cars. He learns that life isn't all about racing, and that real happiness doesn't always end in the Piston Cup.

In the end, when he leaves Radiator Springs and gets to California's tiebreaker race, he finally gets it. He understands that it's more than winning, even more than how he plays the game; what it's really all about is sacrificing for another when they need it most.

What's it really all about?

Jesus said it plainly. It's not about winning because there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for a friend or even, someone against whom you are competing. And in that act of defiance against the way of the world is the real victory.