Here is a moment from a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. Our view of it here is 1/24 of a second, although on screen it lasted a little longer than that. Long enough for our eyes and minds to register it. How can one small piece of a movie mean so much and leave such a lasting impression?

We all walk a path in life, a path full of twists and turns, and the hills and valleys of the events we endure make us into the people that we are. Our paths cross with the paths of others, and our interactions with them shape the path that lies ahead of us.

Luke is a typical young man, by Tatooine moisture farmer standards, He has hopes, and he dreams of a more exciting life, and those dreams are tainted by the tinge of desperation that comes from the impatience of youth. Biggs is right, I'll never get out of here!

But an incredible myriad of crossed paths has led to the path of our hero crossing that of two droids, which unknown to Luke had been gifts exchanged between his mother and his father. His destiny had come calling.

The little R2 unit leads him across the desert and his path splits into two. Go to Alderaan with Obi-Wan, or stay with his family. Answer the call of adventure, go into the unknown, or stick with the safe and familiar. He is unsure, and most of us would be, but he reaches a major turning point when he finds his family slaughtered by the Empire.

And so he goes with Old Ben, sensing his destiny is something far greater than to be a farmer. He faces several choices along the way, splits in the paths of his life, and he always seems to make the right choice. He chooses to risk his life to rescue the princess, instead of standing by and letting her die. He doesn't hesitate to volunteer for the Battle of Yavin. After that he stays with the Rebellion, and fights for freedom for the galaxy. Each of these decisions involves a split in the path of his life, and each time he makes the unselfish choice.

And then the day comes when a new choice is placed in front of him, in the snows of Hoth, Obi-Wan tells him to go to Yoda. Here again is a path into the unknown on one side while the safer and more familiar path, staying with his friends and comrades in the Rebellion, lies in the other direction.

He trusts in the Force, and goes to Dagobah, sensing his duty is to become a Jedi, to use his Force-given talents for good. And when he has to choose between staying with Yoda or helping his friends, he chooses the unselfish path and goes to Bespin, knowing he could be risking his own life. Yoda and Obi-Wan think he is wrong to go, but he won't let his friends suffer because of him. Unlike his father, he will not sacrifice innocents to serve his own desires.

And now we arrive at this point. Here, in the safety of a Rebellion Medical Frigate, he has just survived a major turning point in his young life.

The revelation of a deep, dark secret. Physical injuries that could have cost him his life. Emotional injuries that could have cost him his sanity.

Bacta and microsurgery have repaired his body, but what of his thoughts? The nightmares he must have been suffering, the memories of those unforgettable, unbelievable words echoing though his head as they had echoed in the deep chamber of Cloud City. "No, I am your father."

Instead of thinking of himself, he gets up and puts his arm around Leia, to comfort her. Leia's pain is his pain, too. By this time he has realized they have a special bond. He hasn't realized that bond is familial yet, but he senses her love for him is different than her love for Han, and the agony she feels must be resonating through his mind.

Now before them lies the galaxy, and for Luke another split in his path, a split of many directions. Should he go to find Han? Should he stay with the Alliance? Should he return to Dagobah and Yoda?

How easy it would have been to run back to the safety of Dagobah. How comforting to hear the wisdom of his Master to heal his psychological wounds, to bathe himself in the light side of the Force.

But that would be the most selfish choice.

Should he stay with the Alliance? It's dangerous, but familiar. It has a clear purpose. He can stay with his friends and comrades and let Rebel Command make the hard decisions.

That too, would be a selfish choice, although less than the first.

Or, there is the most difficult path, the path that could lead him closer to the Dark Side of the Force, but it's the path that could help the people he loves, if it doesn't kill them all. He told Lando he'd meet him on Tatooine, but at this moment we see here, does he know what he's going to do? Are the choices raging through his young, confused mind in a turmoil of emotions that resembles a meteor shower?

Or has he made his choice already?

He wants to rescue Han, and reunite Leia with her love. He wants to keep his promise to Yoda and return to Dagobah. He wants to honor his commitment to the Rebel Alliance. But he must choose which path to take that will allow him to accomplish all three. Is he wondering if he can trust himself to make that decision? Will he trust the Force to guide him?

We all know how the story turns out. He chooses the path that leads to the accomplishment of all three goals. But while on the path that leads through Dagobah, he faces another choice, when Yoda and Obi-Wan want him to believe he has to kill his father, or lose everything for which he has fought. But Luke finds another way, to try to save his father from the Dark Side. Leia gives him the chance to run and hide, but he refuses and takes the selfless path to redeeming Anakin and turns the tide of Galactic power forever.

But I knew that Luke had already chosen which path he was going to take. I knew when I saw him put his arm around his sister to comfort her.

He had already chosen the selfless path, as he always does. For he is a Jedi, not like his father before him, but better.



For more of "A Still Moment in a Galaxy Far, Far Away" visit the Official PLB Fan Fiction Club at http://fanficforbloggers.blogspot.com/