By Luke Cameron
From boyhood through grade school and into my high school years I was a voracious consumer of stories. I loved fantasy, science fiction and super hero genres the best. I loved the dreams they had of a better world for themselves and those they loved. I was caught up in their fight against evil to secure their world. While I found these stories captivating, I could not readily identify why they speak to something deep within.
Stories capture our hearts when they nourish eternal truths within us. A well-told story demonstrates and calls us to our eternal design and epic calling. It calls us higher, reminds us we are Image Bearers. We are designed to play a critical and integral role in God’s eternal story as His sons and daughters, co-heirs and partners in bringing to fruition Christ’s bold, beautiful, and eternal kingdom. Stories pull us from our dull world by offering to our hard and wounded hearts a spark of imagination and a glimpse of the grand scale: raw brilliance and an invitation to participate.
My favorite story that captures these epic themes is The Lord of the Rings trilogy, both the book set and the films. One of the most meaningful moments happens close to the end of the story. The hero Frodo has accepted his mission: to carry the evil ring of power while being subjected to its continual temptation, with an ultimate destiny to destroy this ring in the fires of Mount Doom. He recognizes this journey will likely cost him his life in some way. His solitary companion throughout is his steadfast friend Sam. As they near their destination, Frodo has lost nearly all ability to continue. His spirit is broken from the constant strain against the corrupting, evil presence and the heavy burden of the ring. Physically, he cannot continue.
In the midst of this crisis, Sam wrestles within himself: “You are a fool, going on hoping and toiling. You could have lain down and gone to sleep together [to die] days ago, if you hadn’t been so dogged. But you’ll die just the same, or worse. You might just as well lie down now and give it up. You’ll never get to the top anyway.” Sam counters his own argument, “I’ll get there, if I leave everything but my bones behind,’ says Sam. ‘And I’ll carry Mr. Frodo up myself, if it breaks my back and heart. So, stop arguing!” Sam determines to physically carry his friend up the side of Mount Doom on his back because Frodo cannot walk any further. Throughout their travels Sam is selflessly encouraging, supporting and protecting Frodo. Sam is not the smartest, strongest or most fearless in battle. But he is faithful to his friend Frodo.
It is a high calling to be a steadfast friend to others. When I have felt beat up by life circumstances or I am feeling down with disappointment or pain, my friends and mentors have been there to remind me God’s true character and who I am in Christ. Similarly, I have friends in my life who have been overwhelmed with life or a significant loss. I have had the privilege to be used by God to walk alongside them as a steadfast friend, to speak truth and hope into their situations or lend a hand when they have needed it.
The book Prince Caspian, from C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia series, is another classic novel that carries the reader into a grander story and calls us to believe in a divine, complex and risky adventure, one that is more powerful than just one life. The story begins with the Pevensie children traveling on a mission to support Prince Caspian to take his rightful place as King in Narnia. Lucy, the youngest, is woken in the night by a calling from Aslan (the representation of Jesus in this story) to wake the others and follow him immediately on a different path. This makes no sense; the others do not see or hear Aslan. This new path is risky and could be dangerous. Lucy must choose: will she commit to following Aslan when those around her are skeptical? Who should she please: the God who is present but unseen or the doubting companions who offer her a feeling of safety? In the end they do follow her and recognize that this path is safer than anything they could have found themselves. Once things become clear, then they all see Aslan. Likewise, when I am called to trust God’s leading to do something that seems risky or seemingly might not work, I must trust God as He leads me through the process one step at a time. God proves He is faithful and can be trusted.
In our heart of hearts, we long to be courageous men and women living meaningful lives in a larger story that has eternal consequences. Becoming a central character is full of risk – are we willing to reach for the eternal? The good news is a resounding yes! That is exactly the role for which God has called you. Your role matters. No one can do your portion for your family, your community and your workplace. The everyday actions of loving God and loving people have the same impact as heroic actions in books and movies. With God’s help we can literally save someone’s eternal soul, bringing them into God’s eternal kingdom. With our words and actions, we can cultivate life in others without hope.
We have been given Christ’s authority to tear down the strongholds of the enemy and the armor of God to protect and equip us in this fight. Listen to God’s call to partner with Him in bringing His Kingdom on Earth, which is more than we can hope or imagine. I encourage you to read or listen to different stories that transcends the material world and challenge you to live a larger life. Whether that material is the Bible, a book, a film, watching or being involved in a sport, these are tools and gifts we have been given by God to help us understand, visualize and live the full, true lives we are made for and nourish our hearts along the way.
