Younger men derive deep strength and confidence from Godly older men. They feel seen, known, and encouraged. In today’s culture, it’s a rare thing to have someone take a genuine interest in you—in your life, in your future, and in your God-given purpose.

Movie director Joseph Kosinski’s last two films have crushed it at the box office. In 2022, Top Gun: Maverick raked in over 1.4 billion worldwide. His latest film, F1: The Movie, grossed over 630 million and was the blockbuster hit of 2025. But beyond the fighter jets, tense auto races, and big-name actors, both movies contain powerful storylines. The theme of fatherhood is woven together in both films from start to finish.

In F1: The Movie, the main character is a rogue racecar driver named Sonny Hayes (played by Brad Pitt). Sonny was a phenomenal talent growing up but experienced a near-fatal crash that upended his career and left him reeling for the next thirty years as he tried to find his way. The story comes together when Sonny is given one last chance to race in Formula One—but the opportunity comes with a cost. Sonny is asked to mentor rookie driver Joshua Pierce, but Sonny is anything but a mentor. For most of the film, Sonny and Joshua compete against one another instead of working together as teammates. There is a palpable disdain between the two as they spar verbally and fight for position on the racetrack. Over time, though, Sonny and Joshua develop a mutual respect, and a sincere father/son relationship emerges. Sonny becomes a father figure for Joshua, encouraging him and even protecting him at times. Sonny wants to see Joshua succeed.

The final moments of the film are powerful. After Sonny wins the Grand Prix, he is anxious to hop on a plane and find his next challenge, but Joshua runs him down to see where he is going. He tells Joshua, “It’s your team now. I’ll be watching!”

Sonny’s words surprise Joshua. He is passing him the baton and entrusting the team to him. But Sonny will still be watching him from a distance. He will continue to take an interest in Joshua’s life and progress.

To Be Seen

Neuroscientist Curt Thompson says that “each one of us comes into this world looking for someone, looking for us.”

Whether we articulate it like that—or whether we even realize it—the need to be noticed is woven into the fabric of our humanity. Every boy and girl, every man and woman, wants to be seen, known, and loved. And it’s not just that we want this—we truly need this.

This reality is as old as Eden. It permeates Scripture. When Adam and Eve attempt to hide themselves from the presence of God, the Lord God seeks them out. Despite their sin, they can’t hide from his love, his gaze: “Where are you?” God calls out (Gen. 3:9). Even his rebuke for original sin is accompanied by tender grace.

In Genesis 16, the angel of the Lord actively pursues Hagar when she flees into the wilderness. In 1 Kings 19, when the prophet Elijah is at his worst and weakest, the Lord comes for him. Finally, in Ezekiel 34, our True Shepherd declares to His people: “Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out”

We need someone to seek us out, to notice us, to care. We have this in God. And He has designed us to experience something similar from our fellow image bearers.

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