But more than just a story of individual characters defined by their own personal histories, just as important to Star Trek is how every character on the Enterprise comes to shape and define one another. As a voice from the future says after refusing to get involved more than he has to, he couldn't deny them the revelation of what they could do together. As we see before the Enterprise has even taken off, were it not for the friendship of Dr. McCoy (Karl Urban), Kirk might never have stepped foot on his ship. We're it not for Kirk's annoying intrusion into the life of Lieutenant Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Kirk would not have been able to warn the ship of an impending trap. Had the inexperienced pilot Hikaru Sulu (John Cho) not been filling in on the bridge, even Kirk's warning would have been too late. Were it not for Pavel Chekov's (Anton Yelchin) youthful hyperactivity, many a crew member would have found themselves smashed across distant planets instead of in their transport bay. And had Scotty (Simon Pegg) not been marooned by himself on an empty planet, not only would Kirk have wandered around in the snow until Luke Skywalker showed up, but generations of Trekkies would have had to call on someone like Bob or Marvin to beam them up.

More than just an entertaining introduction of all the characters us Trekkies know and love, however, the relationships developed in Star Trek reveal the reality that our greatest contributions rarely rise out of individual or relational perfection, but from people and relationships filled with flaws and mistakes. From the beginning of the film, Spock is told that his humanity is a disability, yet as we see, it proves just as valuable as his Vulcan genius. While some of the crew on the Enterprise are meant to be on the maiden voyage that will define its life, many of its most valuable members are last minute additions, substitutes, or stowaways. While mistakes are made, several end up being the ship's salvation. While tragedy strikes early and often, it is through its impact that many crew members are shifted into the exact position they need to be to carry out their mission. And while internal conflict initially divides, the almost stronger bonds formed through its navigation prove to be infinitely more valuable than any bonds of mere toleration and cooperation.

In the same way that both Kirk and Spock are driven and defined by their relationships with their families when the movie begins, as the members of the Starship Enterprise are brought together through their united struggle against destruction, they too become a family that defines one another. While each person may have joined Starfleet because of his or her own dreams and talents, after their maiden voyage, there is the sense that they are tied together forever. While Kirk may have spent most of his youth looking up to the Federation with disrespect, when he steps up to represent the Federation and take charge of his ship, he does so with respect for every life on his ship and the entire universe contained within the Federation. While various crew members scoff at Kirk's leadership when he boasts about one day becoming captain, when he proves he is both capable of taking the chair and willing to give his life to fill it, his crew is ready to serve him with loyalty and pride.

And as their first adventure as the crew of the Starship Enterprise came to an end, I couldn't help but be reminded of what it should look like to live in community with one another, to rise to our potential despite our weaknesses, and to live lives that truly seek to honor the Father who made us and serve the people and universe He loves

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