I've been hearing a song on the radio lately that makes me think of Once Upon A Time whenever I hear it. The song is by Thousand Foot Krutch and contains a line that encompasses one of the main themes of the show: We all wanna be somebody; we just need a taste of who we are.
Specifically, it makes me think of the episode a couple of weeks ago when we got to know some of Ruby's (Red Riding Hood) back story. When faced with the challenge of taking on more responsibility, she freaks out and lets her fear of failure convince her to run away. In an attempt to find some job she can do, she winds up with Emma, which leads to an opportunity to discover some aspects of her true identity. When she is truly needed, when she alone has the skills to accomplish the task, she gets a taste of who she is.
The interesting thing, though, is that Henry helps to orchestrate that moment. Because he has the book of stories, he knows Ruby's true identity, and he knows he she can help. Sound familiar?
God is Henry... only He's actually writing the story, not just reading it. And, more importantly, He created us. He knows exactly who we are. He knows how our skills and abilities can be used in the moments when we are most needed. He even orchestrates those moments to give us a taste of who we are. He wants us to live as we were created to be, not under the curse of ignorance like the characters in Storybrooke. He even gives us a book of stories meant to help us discover our true identities. We have a role to play in the greater story God is writing... and until we start taking the steps to figure out what that role is, we're stuck in our version of Storybrooke, living by the rules of someone who cares only for their own happiness.
Showing posts with label Once Upon A Time. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Once Upon A Time. Show all posts
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Getting What You Think You Want
I have been shirking my blogging duties over the past few weeks. Life has been a little crazy, so sharing my ramblings on Once Upon A Time has taken a back seat. Fortunately, there have only been two new episodes (thanks to the Super Bowl!), so I don't have as much to catch up on.
Both episodes have me thinking about what happens when we go after what we think we want, what we think will satisfy our desires, with little or no regard for the consequences. How quickly we compromise on our convictions for the sake of satisfaction.
Mary Margaret & David arrange secret meetings or sit very near each other at the diner. Despite his promise to his wife, they are determined to be together, because that is what they want. In the end, Mary Margaret realizes it's an impossible situation. David is still married to Kathryn and isn't free to have the kind of relationship Mary Margaret longs for.
We find out that the Queen's magic mirror was once a genie, set free by her husband (Snow White's father). The genie falls in love with the Queen and pursues her heart despite the fact that she's already married. The Queen uses his love against him to accomplish the murder of the king. The genie uses the last wish left in the lamp to make sure he will never be parted from the Queen. And so, he winds up in the mirror.
Sydney (the mirror as he is in Storybrooke) comes to Emma with a desire to bring down the mayor. Although Emma refuses to stoop to the mayor's level, Emma does eventually play dirty in order to get the information they need. The plan backfires, making Emma all the more eager to partner with Sydney to get to the truth. What she doesn't know is that this is all part of a plan the mayor and Sydney have concocted to keep an eye on Emma.
All three of these stories are perfect examples of how quickly our desires can lead us astray when we seek to fulfill them on our own terms and timing. The desires themselves aren't necessarily wrong (the desire to love & be loved reflects God's desire for relationship; the desire to see the mayor brought to justice so others could be free reflects God's desire for truth and freedom). However, the ways in which each character chooses to act on those desires is wrong. We do the same when we decide how and when we get what we want (or what we think we want) instead of waiting on God's plan. We may not wind up stuck in a magic mirror, but we will still face the consequences of heartbreak or becoming entrapped in something that isn't good for us. Fortunately, there is One who heals broken hearts and sets captives free. We can turn to Him for grace and forgiveness and a second chance in which He delights to give us the desires of our hearts... on His terms and in His timing.
Both episodes have me thinking about what happens when we go after what we think we want, what we think will satisfy our desires, with little or no regard for the consequences. How quickly we compromise on our convictions for the sake of satisfaction.
Mary Margaret & David arrange secret meetings or sit very near each other at the diner. Despite his promise to his wife, they are determined to be together, because that is what they want. In the end, Mary Margaret realizes it's an impossible situation. David is still married to Kathryn and isn't free to have the kind of relationship Mary Margaret longs for.
We find out that the Queen's magic mirror was once a genie, set free by her husband (Snow White's father). The genie falls in love with the Queen and pursues her heart despite the fact that she's already married. The Queen uses his love against him to accomplish the murder of the king. The genie uses the last wish left in the lamp to make sure he will never be parted from the Queen. And so, he winds up in the mirror.
Sydney (the mirror as he is in Storybrooke) comes to Emma with a desire to bring down the mayor. Although Emma refuses to stoop to the mayor's level, Emma does eventually play dirty in order to get the information they need. The plan backfires, making Emma all the more eager to partner with Sydney to get to the truth. What she doesn't know is that this is all part of a plan the mayor and Sydney have concocted to keep an eye on Emma.
All three of these stories are perfect examples of how quickly our desires can lead us astray when we seek to fulfill them on our own terms and timing. The desires themselves aren't necessarily wrong (the desire to love & be loved reflects God's desire for relationship; the desire to see the mayor brought to justice so others could be free reflects God's desire for truth and freedom). However, the ways in which each character chooses to act on those desires is wrong. We do the same when we decide how and when we get what we want (or what we think we want) instead of waiting on God's plan. We may not wind up stuck in a magic mirror, but we will still face the consequences of heartbreak or becoming entrapped in something that isn't good for us. Fortunately, there is One who heals broken hearts and sets captives free. We can turn to Him for grace and forgiveness and a second chance in which He delights to give us the desires of our hearts... on His terms and in His timing.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Trying to Forget
This was the first episode of Once Upon A Time where I wanted to punch the writers. They chickened out on a story line that was actually admirable... I wrote a previous post (The Making of a Prince) applauding the fact that David (aka Snow White's Prince Charming) was choosing to honor his marriage commitment despite feelings for Mary Margaret. And then this week David & Mary Margaret kiss passionately at the end of the episode... He's still married... and just had a conversation with his wife about how he wants to make it work. Would it have been such a bad thing for him to actually be a man of strong character and integrity? In the Enchanted Forest, he chooses not to go through with his wedding to Abigail because he's in love with Snow White. Much more honorable than kissing another woman while he's still married.... Sigh!
Prior to that kiss, though, this episode resonated deeply with my heart. It focused on Snow White/Mary Margaret and Prince James/David trying to deal with their feelings for each other in both the Enchanted Forest and Storybrooke. Snow White wants a way to forget she loves him, so she winds up meeting with Rumpelstiltskin who gives her a potion (while keeping a lock of her hair... strange!) that will make her forget him completely. Before she can drink it, a note arrives from James asking her to come to the castle; if she does, he'll know she loves him and they can be together. She goes, but of course gets captured and the King tells her she must give James up or he will be killed. Although it breaks her heart, she does, and leaves in the company of the dwarves. James chooses not to go through with the wedding and goes in search of Snow, who drinks the potion and wakes on what should be a happy morning with no recollection of the man she loved.
How many times have I longed for that sort of potion?! Those moments when you know you have to let go of the hope of a relationship but the task seems impossible. How do you forget the feelings that have been stirred in your heart? How do you keep your mind from dwelling on him and what might have been? How do you do any of that when, like Mary Margaret & David, you live in a small town where it's almost impossible not to run into each other? Or maybe it would be better just to turn off your feelings until you meet the right person... But alas, there is no "off" switch... no magic potion.
I'm learning more and more about the role God wants to play in these situations. There's a moment in the Bible when we're told not to awaken love before its time. I don't completely understand the command, but I'm starting to think that God will lull love back to sleep if we ask Him to. Could we maybe take our feelings to Him when they first start and ask Him if the timing is right? Could we learn to surrender them instead of dwelling on them and letting them awaken completely? Could we awaken our passion and love for God instead, allowing those feelings to override anything else and become the fulfillment of our desires? And when we do allow ourselves to dwell on and develop feelings for the wrong person, can we take our bruised hearts to Him for healing? I think He would like nothing more than help us fall more in love with Him so the pain of unrequited love can subside. It's not as simple as swallowing a magic potion... but I think it might work better.
Prior to that kiss, though, this episode resonated deeply with my heart. It focused on Snow White/Mary Margaret and Prince James/David trying to deal with their feelings for each other in both the Enchanted Forest and Storybrooke. Snow White wants a way to forget she loves him, so she winds up meeting with Rumpelstiltskin who gives her a potion (while keeping a lock of her hair... strange!) that will make her forget him completely. Before she can drink it, a note arrives from James asking her to come to the castle; if she does, he'll know she loves him and they can be together. She goes, but of course gets captured and the King tells her she must give James up or he will be killed. Although it breaks her heart, she does, and leaves in the company of the dwarves. James chooses not to go through with the wedding and goes in search of Snow, who drinks the potion and wakes on what should be a happy morning with no recollection of the man she loved.
How many times have I longed for that sort of potion?! Those moments when you know you have to let go of the hope of a relationship but the task seems impossible. How do you forget the feelings that have been stirred in your heart? How do you keep your mind from dwelling on him and what might have been? How do you do any of that when, like Mary Margaret & David, you live in a small town where it's almost impossible not to run into each other? Or maybe it would be better just to turn off your feelings until you meet the right person... But alas, there is no "off" switch... no magic potion.
I'm learning more and more about the role God wants to play in these situations. There's a moment in the Bible when we're told not to awaken love before its time. I don't completely understand the command, but I'm starting to think that God will lull love back to sleep if we ask Him to. Could we maybe take our feelings to Him when they first start and ask Him if the timing is right? Could we learn to surrender them instead of dwelling on them and letting them awaken completely? Could we awaken our passion and love for God instead, allowing those feelings to override anything else and become the fulfillment of our desires? And when we do allow ourselves to dwell on and develop feelings for the wrong person, can we take our bruised hearts to Him for healing? I think He would like nothing more than help us fall more in love with Him so the pain of unrequited love can subside. It's not as simple as swallowing a magic potion... but I think it might work better.
Family
"Hansel & Gretel" has always been the strangest of the fairy tales I'm familiar with. I'm not sure that I ever really understood the point of it. Is there a lesson to be learned beyond "don't eat the gingerbread cottage you come across when wandering in the woods"? And should we really be teaching our kids to push people into ovens?
The writers of Once Upon A Time maintained the creepy weird aspects of this particular story, but they also simplified the moral to one I deeply appreciate: Family will always find each other. In the Enchanted Forest, Hansel & Gretel literally run into the Evil Queen as they search for their father (aided by a compass instead of breadcrumbs). The Queen actually sends them to the cottage on a quest for something she needs (we find out later it's the poisoned apple for Snow White). As a reward for their success, she offers them a home with her, but they refuse, choosing to continue the search for their father. In her usual fashion, the Queen returns both the children and their father to the woods, but on opposite sides of the vast forest, doomed to search for each other forever.
In Storybrooke, Hansel & Gretel are motherless children whose only clue to their father's identity is a compass. As Sheriff, Emma does some digging and finds him, but he's unwilling to take on the responsibility. When Emma tries to take them to Boston (where the Mayor has arranged for their placement in separate children's homes), her car breaks down. Luckily, the father is the town mechanic, and when he shows up to fix the car, he decides he might be willing to be a father after all.
I realize that in our world, many of my readers may have very negative experiences of family. You might actually shudder at the idea of family always finding each other. But the reality is that family connection doesn't have to be merely biological. The Bible describes God as a father who adopts us as His children. When we accept His gift of grace, we become part of a family that spreads around the globe and across the generations. There is a spiritual connection that bonds us together more strongly than anything else. In this family we can learn to trust each other, to work through conflict, to find encouragement and support... as long as we're seeking to be the family God created us to be. Best of all, we have a perfect Father who loves us as we should be loved. And this same Father will always search for us when we get ourselves lost. Like Hansel & Gretel, we also get a compass-- the Holy Spirit-- to help guide us back to the Father. As long as it's seeking (and God always is), this family will always find each other.
The writers of Once Upon A Time maintained the creepy weird aspects of this particular story, but they also simplified the moral to one I deeply appreciate: Family will always find each other. In the Enchanted Forest, Hansel & Gretel literally run into the Evil Queen as they search for their father (aided by a compass instead of breadcrumbs). The Queen actually sends them to the cottage on a quest for something she needs (we find out later it's the poisoned apple for Snow White). As a reward for their success, she offers them a home with her, but they refuse, choosing to continue the search for their father. In her usual fashion, the Queen returns both the children and their father to the woods, but on opposite sides of the vast forest, doomed to search for each other forever.
In Storybrooke, Hansel & Gretel are motherless children whose only clue to their father's identity is a compass. As Sheriff, Emma does some digging and finds him, but he's unwilling to take on the responsibility. When Emma tries to take them to Boston (where the Mayor has arranged for their placement in separate children's homes), her car breaks down. Luckily, the father is the town mechanic, and when he shows up to fix the car, he decides he might be willing to be a father after all.
I realize that in our world, many of my readers may have very negative experiences of family. You might actually shudder at the idea of family always finding each other. But the reality is that family connection doesn't have to be merely biological. The Bible describes God as a father who adopts us as His children. When we accept His gift of grace, we become part of a family that spreads around the globe and across the generations. There is a spiritual connection that bonds us together more strongly than anything else. In this family we can learn to trust each other, to work through conflict, to find encouragement and support... as long as we're seeking to be the family God created us to be. Best of all, we have a perfect Father who loves us as we should be loved. And this same Father will always search for us when we get ourselves lost. Like Hansel & Gretel, we also get a compass-- the Holy Spirit-- to help guide us back to the Father. As long as it's seeking (and God always is), this family will always find each other.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Who's the Real Enemy?
This week's Once Upon A Time gave us a glimpse into Rumpelstiltskin's past. We find him to be the father of a young boy living in fear of the Duke who rules the land. Once children reach a certain age, the Duke collects them to give their lives in the war he's waging. Rumpelstiltskin tries to save his son by running and winds up meeting an old beggar who tells him how to gain control of the situation: he must steal the Duke's magic dagger and kill "the Dark One". Of course, as we've already learned, "all magic comes at a price", and doing this turns Rumpelstiltskin into the power hungry trickster we're all familiar with.
Meanwhile, back in Storybrooke, Emma is dealing with the death of Graham. Mr. Gold informs her that she automatically becomes Sheriff after two weeks. Madame Mayor, Regina, attempts to thwart this, but Mr. Gold steps in, offering his assistance to Emma. Despite Henry's warnings, Emma accepts Mr. Gold's help until she realizes that he'll play dirty to get things to go her way.
For me, this episode solidified the idea that we don't really know who the real enemy is in this story. While Regina (aka the Evil Queen) is obviously bent on doing whatever she needs to make herself happy, Mr. Gold is all about manipulation and control as well. I'm beginning to wonder if even the Evil Queen is simply a pawn in Rumpelstiltskin's evil plans.
In real life, we have the same issue: identifying the true enemy. There are people who are totally focused on themselves and their own happiness who hurt others in their attempt to achieve it. The hurt they cause is real and shouldn't be ignored, but they aren't the true enemy. The only one bent on your destruction, the one seeking to manipulate and control you, is Satan. He is the true enemy in this story. Peter describes him as a roaring lion "seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8 ESV). And Paul instructs us to put on the armor of God because our battle is not with flesh and blood, but with the "spiritual forces of evil" (Eph 6:12 ESV). You can't battle your enemy if you have no knowledge of how he works, and you can't know how he works if you don't actually know who he is. He takes advantage of our lack of knowledge. Like Emma, we can even be tricked into thinking he's on our side. Problem is, his way of doing things leads to death and not to life. So make sure you can identify your true enemy. More importantly, make sure you know the Savior, the only one who can protect and save you from this enemy of ours.
Meanwhile, back in Storybrooke, Emma is dealing with the death of Graham. Mr. Gold informs her that she automatically becomes Sheriff after two weeks. Madame Mayor, Regina, attempts to thwart this, but Mr. Gold steps in, offering his assistance to Emma. Despite Henry's warnings, Emma accepts Mr. Gold's help until she realizes that he'll play dirty to get things to go her way.
For me, this episode solidified the idea that we don't really know who the real enemy is in this story. While Regina (aka the Evil Queen) is obviously bent on doing whatever she needs to make herself happy, Mr. Gold is all about manipulation and control as well. I'm beginning to wonder if even the Evil Queen is simply a pawn in Rumpelstiltskin's evil plans.
In real life, we have the same issue: identifying the true enemy. There are people who are totally focused on themselves and their own happiness who hurt others in their attempt to achieve it. The hurt they cause is real and shouldn't be ignored, but they aren't the true enemy. The only one bent on your destruction, the one seeking to manipulate and control you, is Satan. He is the true enemy in this story. Peter describes him as a roaring lion "seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8 ESV). And Paul instructs us to put on the armor of God because our battle is not with flesh and blood, but with the "spiritual forces of evil" (Eph 6:12 ESV). You can't battle your enemy if you have no knowledge of how he works, and you can't know how he works if you don't actually know who he is. He takes advantage of our lack of knowledge. Like Emma, we can even be tricked into thinking he's on our side. Problem is, his way of doing things leads to death and not to life. So make sure you can identify your true enemy. More importantly, make sure you know the Savior, the only one who can protect and save you from this enemy of ours.
Monday, December 12, 2011
A Matter of the Heart
SPOILER ALERT: If you have not watched the December 11th episode of Once Upon A Time (titled "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter"), DO NOT read any farther... unless, of course, you don't actually watch the show and don't mind having it spoiled for you.
Last night's episode was the first in which the writers killed off a character we actually know and care about. Or at least care about somewhat. We haven't gotten to see much of Graham, the sheriff of Storybrooke, and what we have seen hasn't really been endearing (besides the fact that he's super attractive). But this episode is all about him... Last week, Emma caught him sneaking out of the mayor's house and (correctly) deduced that he and the mayor have been sleeping together for a while. This week, Graham tries to explain that he feels nothing for the mayor. In fact, he really feels nothing at all. Except when he's with Emma. Which of course leads him to kiss her (Guys: this is not an appropriate way to express your desire for a relationship... Use your words, please!)... But when he kisses her, he starts to remember who he really is.
Turns out, Graham is the huntsman the Evil Queen charged with the task of killing Snow White. We all know how the story goes: he can't bring himself to kill her, so he takes the heart of a deer back to the Queen, who cuts his heart out instead when she discovers that he tricked her. In this version, the Queen literally rips out his heart, but he continues to live. He will forever be her "pet", controlled by her, unable to go against her wishes. And if he ever dares to defy her, she will crush his heart and he will die. In Storybrooke, this translates to a man who has no heart. There's something beating inside his chest, but the emotions and feelings that reside in the heart don't exist for him. He feels nothing. And now he has come to the point where he is tired of living life that way. He begins the hunt for his heart.
Meanwhile, Emma's anger at Graham for his relationship with the mayor seems to mask the disappointment and sadness she feels. Although she won't admit it, Emma has developed feelings for Graham, feelings that make his actions seem like a betrayal. As Mary Margaret points out, though, Emma has spent her life building up a wall around her heart in an attempt to protect herself from pain. And while it's keeping pain out, it's also doing a good job of not letting love in either.
I find it interesting how clearly these stories portray two sides of a very real human problem: the death of our hearts. How often do you find yourself wishing to feel... something... anything? Those moments when hope and joy and love seem distant, when even pain would be better than the numbness. Do we not realize what Jesus meant when he said the thief comes to steal? Satan will do whatever he can to kill your heart by robbing you of hope and joy and love and any other feeling that might lead you to live the abundant life Jesus meant for you. Like the Evil Queen, he will rip your heart from you and hold it in his control, squeezing just enough until you surrender to him. His threats will leave you helpless, wondering why you feel nothing, and yet giving up any hope of something better.
On the flip side, how many of us choose to kill our own hearts? As Emma does, we build up walls around our hearts to protect them. We choose not to feel anything because it only leads to pain. Our past experiences have taught us that we need to make sure our hearts are safe, so we stop trusting, hoping, wanting, loving. We don't let anyone get close enough to hurt us. And we certainly don't let our hearts speak the desires that reside inside them because we know all too well that those desires might never be fulfilled. We choose to feel nothing and give up any hope of something better.
Here's the thing: God designed us to have living hearts! Obviously we need them in the physical sense to pump blood through our bodies. But we also need them to give life to our spirits and our emotions. We were meant to feel and to have desires. Without them, we aren't really living. The good news is that we can find life for our hearts in God. Whether your heart is dead because Satan has killed it or because you have killed it (or perhaps some combination of both), God can and will make it alive again. He can wrench it from Satan's grasp and breathe new life into it. He can break down the walls you have built around it and breathe new life into it. One of the greatest promises in Scripture is the one where God promises to give us a new heart, a heart of flesh that is full of life. And we can place that same heart, with all its feelings and desires, into the hands of a God who promises to protect and fight for it. That doesn't mean we won't experience pain, but it does mean that we will experience healing when that pain comes. The journey to find your heart and bring it back to life will be a difficult one. But if you choose to take it, your Guide is wise and patient, and He will make the journey worth the taking.
Last night's episode was the first in which the writers killed off a character we actually know and care about. Or at least care about somewhat. We haven't gotten to see much of Graham, the sheriff of Storybrooke, and what we have seen hasn't really been endearing (besides the fact that he's super attractive). But this episode is all about him... Last week, Emma caught him sneaking out of the mayor's house and (correctly) deduced that he and the mayor have been sleeping together for a while. This week, Graham tries to explain that he feels nothing for the mayor. In fact, he really feels nothing at all. Except when he's with Emma. Which of course leads him to kiss her (Guys: this is not an appropriate way to express your desire for a relationship... Use your words, please!)... But when he kisses her, he starts to remember who he really is.
Turns out, Graham is the huntsman the Evil Queen charged with the task of killing Snow White. We all know how the story goes: he can't bring himself to kill her, so he takes the heart of a deer back to the Queen, who cuts his heart out instead when she discovers that he tricked her. In this version, the Queen literally rips out his heart, but he continues to live. He will forever be her "pet", controlled by her, unable to go against her wishes. And if he ever dares to defy her, she will crush his heart and he will die. In Storybrooke, this translates to a man who has no heart. There's something beating inside his chest, but the emotions and feelings that reside in the heart don't exist for him. He feels nothing. And now he has come to the point where he is tired of living life that way. He begins the hunt for his heart.
Meanwhile, Emma's anger at Graham for his relationship with the mayor seems to mask the disappointment and sadness she feels. Although she won't admit it, Emma has developed feelings for Graham, feelings that make his actions seem like a betrayal. As Mary Margaret points out, though, Emma has spent her life building up a wall around her heart in an attempt to protect herself from pain. And while it's keeping pain out, it's also doing a good job of not letting love in either.
I find it interesting how clearly these stories portray two sides of a very real human problem: the death of our hearts. How often do you find yourself wishing to feel... something... anything? Those moments when hope and joy and love seem distant, when even pain would be better than the numbness. Do we not realize what Jesus meant when he said the thief comes to steal? Satan will do whatever he can to kill your heart by robbing you of hope and joy and love and any other feeling that might lead you to live the abundant life Jesus meant for you. Like the Evil Queen, he will rip your heart from you and hold it in his control, squeezing just enough until you surrender to him. His threats will leave you helpless, wondering why you feel nothing, and yet giving up any hope of something better.
On the flip side, how many of us choose to kill our own hearts? As Emma does, we build up walls around our hearts to protect them. We choose not to feel anything because it only leads to pain. Our past experiences have taught us that we need to make sure our hearts are safe, so we stop trusting, hoping, wanting, loving. We don't let anyone get close enough to hurt us. And we certainly don't let our hearts speak the desires that reside inside them because we know all too well that those desires might never be fulfilled. We choose to feel nothing and give up any hope of something better.
Here's the thing: God designed us to have living hearts! Obviously we need them in the physical sense to pump blood through our bodies. But we also need them to give life to our spirits and our emotions. We were meant to feel and to have desires. Without them, we aren't really living. The good news is that we can find life for our hearts in God. Whether your heart is dead because Satan has killed it or because you have killed it (or perhaps some combination of both), God can and will make it alive again. He can wrench it from Satan's grasp and breathe new life into it. He can break down the walls you have built around it and breathe new life into it. One of the greatest promises in Scripture is the one where God promises to give us a new heart, a heart of flesh that is full of life. And we can place that same heart, with all its feelings and desires, into the hands of a God who promises to protect and fight for it. That doesn't mean we won't experience pain, but it does mean that we will experience healing when that pain comes. The journey to find your heart and bring it back to life will be a difficult one. But if you choose to take it, your Guide is wise and patient, and He will make the journey worth the taking.
Monday, December 5, 2011
The Making of a Prince
I'm not totally sure I'm qualified to write about this week's episode of "Once Upon A Time". It's focused on the making of Prince Charming, a story of the boy becoming the man so to speak. And seeing as I'm a woman... But there were still some interesting moments to comment on.
Apparently the Prince Charming we know is actually the twin brother of a son procured by Rumpelstiltskin for King George, one of the many kings in the Enchanted Forest. This first son is hired to kill a dragon that has been attacking the kingdom of King Midas. When the prince dies, King George, desperate for the money promised in return for the death of the dragon, deals again with Rumpelstiltskin for the twin brother as a replacement. James has spent his life on a farm, caring for sheep, knowing nothing of the whereabouts of his twin brother. Out of nowhere, Rumpelstiltskin arrives to pluck him out of that life and make him a prince. The job is simple: stand outside the cave while the knights slay the dragon. Of course, things don't go according to plan, and James winds up slaying the dragon himself.
I think this plot line was intriguing in light of some of the writings of one of my favorite authors, John Eldredge. He writes quite a bit about men and the need for a moment of initiation into manhood, a moment when the boy steps into the role he was created for and finds that he truly does have what it takes to be a man. Eldredge argues that without these moments, men will continue to struggle with this question throughout their lives. Now obviously, there isn't much call for the slaying of dragons these days, but there are still plenty of moments for men to step up and be who they were created to be.
Interestingly enough, Prince Charming's alter ego, David, is struggling with just such a moment. He started the series as an unknown patient in a coma. He wakes, but has amnesia. Henry hopes that he will start to remember Snow White and life in the Enchanted Forest, but Kathryn shows up. She's apparently his wife. He left one day when things were going badly in their marriage and, because of the accident, never returned. He can't remember anything about her or their marriage; all he knows is that he feels this connection to Mary Margaret (Snow White) that is "more real than anything else". When he tells her this, she does the right thing and seeks to distance herself from him. He continues to pursue her, and eventually decides he's going to choose her instead of Kathryn. He asks her to meet him at the bridge where she saved him. She struggles with the decision, but decides that because he's leaving his wife, it's ok to let him pursue her instead. Of course, things don't always go as planned. On his way to meet Mary Margaret, David begins to remember his life with Kathryn. By the time he gets to the bridge, he has chosen to go back to Kathryn and try to work things out. He finally makes the right decision, although his previous wrong ones have caused Mary Margaret pain (and I'm grateful she lets him have it for leading her on). He chooses to honor the commitment he made, one of the marks of a man living the role he was created for.
Like I said, I'm not totally sure what to make of all those thoughts. I don't have some nugget of wisdom to offer... But I do have a request and an encouragement to all my brothers: Please take the opportunity to become the man you were created to be. The world needs you. Your brothers need you. Your sisters need you. Let the King of the Universe make you into the Prince you are.
Apparently the Prince Charming we know is actually the twin brother of a son procured by Rumpelstiltskin for King George, one of the many kings in the Enchanted Forest. This first son is hired to kill a dragon that has been attacking the kingdom of King Midas. When the prince dies, King George, desperate for the money promised in return for the death of the dragon, deals again with Rumpelstiltskin for the twin brother as a replacement. James has spent his life on a farm, caring for sheep, knowing nothing of the whereabouts of his twin brother. Out of nowhere, Rumpelstiltskin arrives to pluck him out of that life and make him a prince. The job is simple: stand outside the cave while the knights slay the dragon. Of course, things don't go according to plan, and James winds up slaying the dragon himself.
I think this plot line was intriguing in light of some of the writings of one of my favorite authors, John Eldredge. He writes quite a bit about men and the need for a moment of initiation into manhood, a moment when the boy steps into the role he was created for and finds that he truly does have what it takes to be a man. Eldredge argues that without these moments, men will continue to struggle with this question throughout their lives. Now obviously, there isn't much call for the slaying of dragons these days, but there are still plenty of moments for men to step up and be who they were created to be.
Interestingly enough, Prince Charming's alter ego, David, is struggling with just such a moment. He started the series as an unknown patient in a coma. He wakes, but has amnesia. Henry hopes that he will start to remember Snow White and life in the Enchanted Forest, but Kathryn shows up. She's apparently his wife. He left one day when things were going badly in their marriage and, because of the accident, never returned. He can't remember anything about her or their marriage; all he knows is that he feels this connection to Mary Margaret (Snow White) that is "more real than anything else". When he tells her this, she does the right thing and seeks to distance herself from him. He continues to pursue her, and eventually decides he's going to choose her instead of Kathryn. He asks her to meet him at the bridge where she saved him. She struggles with the decision, but decides that because he's leaving his wife, it's ok to let him pursue her instead. Of course, things don't always go as planned. On his way to meet Mary Margaret, David begins to remember his life with Kathryn. By the time he gets to the bridge, he has chosen to go back to Kathryn and try to work things out. He finally makes the right decision, although his previous wrong ones have caused Mary Margaret pain (and I'm grateful she lets him have it for leading her on). He chooses to honor the commitment he made, one of the marks of a man living the role he was created for.
Like I said, I'm not totally sure what to make of all those thoughts. I don't have some nugget of wisdom to offer... But I do have a request and an encouragement to all my brothers: Please take the opportunity to become the man you were created to be. The world needs you. Your brothers need you. Your sisters need you. Let the King of the Universe make you into the Prince you are.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Once Upon A Time
"If you want your children to be brilliant,
read them fairy tales.
If you want them to be geniuses,
read them more fairy tales."
~ Albert Einstein
So I watched the new TV show "Once Upon A Time" Sunday night. It's created and written by some of the writers from LOST (one of my favorite TV shows of all time!), and I was super excited to see what they've come up with. The first episode has me hooked! And the subject matter has inspired me to plan on regularly blogging about the show...
The premise of the show is pretty straightforward: The Evil Queen (of fairy tale fame) creates a curse that pulls many of our well-known fairy tale characters (Snow White, Prince Charming, the dwarves, Red Riding Hood & her grandmother, Rumplestiltskin, and more) from the Enchanted Forest into a town in Maine known as Storybrooke. There, time stands still and none of them know who they really are. Their only hope lies with Emma Swan, the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming who escaped the curse with the help of an enchanted wardrobe.
I love it! What an intriguing metaphor for our own lives as Christians. We were tricked out of the Enchanted Forest (Eden) by an evil enemy (Satan) into a world where we have no idea who we truly are or that we're part of a story in which we have a role to play. Our only hope is for someone (Christ) to come along and help us realize our true identities. In this first episode, we're introduced to Emma and Henry, two characters who feel alone, unconnected, and unwanted. How often do we feel the same? Until we start to understand that this world and the identity it has given us are not reality, we will feel alone, unconnected, and unwanted. Just as the characters in the show must come to realize that the fairy tale stories are their true reality, we as Christians must come to realize that the story of the Bible, the story God has been writing since the dawn of time, is our true reality.
I can't wait to see more!
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