Wisdom Of The 90’s: Groundhog Day

What can we learn from the 90s?  Are there real lessons to be learned from a time that gave us “The Macarena“, Steve Urkel, and Jerry Springer?  I contend there is wisdom to be gained, if only we look in the right places.  This series will dive into the culture of a decade that changed so much.

Bill And Phil

Bill Murray is a guy who was/is in movies.

Bill Murray is, oftentimes, funny in the movies.

In one film called “What About Bob?”, Bill plays a simple-minded man named Bob who has many needs. At one point in the film, as Bob is sharing a meal with his doctor’s family, he is complimenting the food and asks: “Is this corn hand-shucked?” That gets me every time.

In the early 90’s, funny-guy Bill Murray was also in a film called “Groundhog Day.” Bill portrays a weather-man named Phil who gets stuck in a loop of repeating the same day over and over and over and over again. 

If that premise seems like a great setup for Bill Murray’s comedic hijinks, you’d be correct. However, the film also…….strangely…….might be one of the deeper films you’ll ever watch.

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Though all the wealth of men was mine to squander
And towers of ivory rose beneath my feet
Were palaces of pleasure mine to wander
The sum of it would leave me incomplete

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Solomon’s Search

The Bible includes some rather wild stuff. 

It doesn’t sugar-coat human nature or sin. The Bible depicts the people in it just as they are: sinners who do sinful things. Sinners in need of a Savior.

One particularly shocking section of Scripture is the book of Ecclesiastes. There’s a King named Solomon and he wants to figure out what truly matters.

He decides to “test” himself by experiencing all that earthly life offers: pleasure, wisdom, greatness, women, laughter, parties, etc. He “did not refuse” his eyes or “restrain” his heart from anything. Being the exceedingly wealthy king that he was, he gave in to pursuing every possible pleasure.

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Though every soul would hold my name in honor
And truest love was always by my side
My praises sung by grateful sons and daughters
My soul would never still be satisfied

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Let Him Cook

Captain James Cook was one of the world’s most influential explorers. You can read an excellent book on him called “The Wide Wide Sea.” Cook is most known for leading three voyages in his lifetime where he was able to map lands from New Zealand and Hawaii and all over the Pacific Ocean.

One of the key features of his voyages though was what is called “negative exploration.” For example, in his time, scientists thought there had to be a large, inhabitable continent existing further south than Australia. Cook contributed to human knowledge by “negative exploration” in this area: that is, he searched it out and basically debunked this idea fully. After his voyages, the maps of the world became more clear, more accurate.

His “negative exploration” on multiple fronts are important parts of his legacy as an explorer.

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It’s not enough, it’s not enough
I could walk the world forever
Till my shoes were filled with blood It’s not enough, it’s not enough

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Phil Goes For It

Phil, in Groundhog Day, gets straight-up Solomon-esque in his endeavors. Once he realizes he will keep repeating the same day over and over – and once he realizes no one else is aware of this….he “does not refuse” his eyes or his heart at all. He impresses others with perfect Jeopardy scores (because he’s memorized the answers). He gains renown for his piano playing expertise (because he’s practiced). He pursues women and tests out different ways of charming them. On and on, Phil tries out just about everything earthly life has to offer.

It’s all there. Even the dark stuff. Phil’s quests in all these areas seem to leave him more empty, not fulfilled. At one point, the despair sets in for Phil. He ends up trying to take his own life as a means of escaping his trap.

For a 90’s comedy the film is…surprisingly honest. Quite frankly, its one of the more philosophically deep films I’ve ever seen for how it examines humanity’s search for something that matters, something that lasts. 

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Though I could live for all to lift them higher
Or spend the centuries seeking light within
Though I indulged my every dark desire
Exhausting every avenue of sin

It’s not enough, it’s not enough
I could walk the world forever
Till my shoes were filled with blood It’s not enough, it’s not enough
I could right all wrongs, or ravage everything beneath the sun
It’s not enough, it’s not enough

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Phil For Ya

There is wisdom in Groundhog Day, even if it’s imperfect and incomplete.

The wisdom of “negative exploration” is a large part of Phil’s character arc. At the beginning of the film, Phil is an egotistical, mean, greedy, lustful man. It is only after he spends decades (most likely) trapped in repeating the same day that he changes. It is only after he spends so much time pursuing all the things the world has to offer that he begins to change. 

Phil only escapes his trap at the end when he lives out a version of repentance. He puts others first. He saves a young boy, gives to the homeless, helps out an elderly man, etc. Phil stops searching for his meaning in the temporary lusts of his flesh and instead serves others first. 

Phil’s character has changed.

It’s close to what King Solomon realizes in his searches. At the end of Ecclesiastes, you hear him teach the wisdom of “negative exploration.”

“The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgement, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13

In other words, all the prevailing theories of this world: “money satisfies, prize it over everything!” “Sex however you want it satisfies, prize it over everything!” “Accomplishments are what matter, give your everything for it!” etc, etc, etc…… Solomon (and Phil) have negatively explored those parts of the map. The “maps” our culture gives us are incomplete and incorrect. They think joy and satisfaction are going to be found in all these pursuits – it’s not enough.

Those areas are no longer a mystery. Our maps are more clear and accurate now. Those prevailing theories of what is truly significant and what truly matters – those are dead wrong. 

What matters is to fear God and keep His commandments.

True joy and real eternal significance come when you align your life with God’s wisdom. If you’re trapped in repeating the same day and the same empty search over and over again….let today be when it all changes.

To make me whole
It’s not enough, it never was
Awake my soul
It’s not enough, it never was

It’s not enough, it’s not enough
I could walk the world forever
Till my shoes were filled with blood
It’s not enough, it’s not enough
I could right all wrongs, or ravage everything beneath the sun
It’s not enough, it’s not enough
Though all would bow to me
Till I could drink my fill of fear and love
It’s not enough, it’s not enough

The lyrics you’ve read in this piece are from a song called “Its Not Enough” by The Modern Post. The song is almost like a 4 minute version of the book of Ecclesiastes. Worth your time and a listen.

Want to read more of this series called “Wisdom Of The 90’s” – start here

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Additionally, if you want to hear a more full discussion and breakdown of “Groundhog Day,” you can check out our Crosscutting Culture podcast where we did an episode on it – find that here.

Thanks for reading.  Your comments and insights are always welcomed.  If you enjoyed this, please share it.  Want more content?  Check the archives, my youtube channel, or listen to me on the Cross-Cutting Culture Podcast.