For a long time, I've been thinking about how life, properly understood, is similar to fantasy. By "properly understood," I mean understood from the perspective of the Bible, that truth is knowable, God exists, and His Son Jesus is the only one who can save us from the evil in ourselves and in our world. When you understand the world from this perspective, it throws a whole new light on fantasy stories as reflections of the deepest realities. This "Life is a Fantasy" series is an expression of my musings on the subject. For this post, I'll discuss what I think is the most important factor of fantasy as it relates to real life: the supernatural factor.
Think of your favorite fantasy, if you have one. (I always think of The Lord of the Rings.)
Now, think of the beginning of the story. The hero is a perfectly normal person; at least, normal for their world. True, there may be aspects of the hero's character that are "abnormal", like a stutter or an unusual attraction to adventure, but the hero in general is trying to live a normal life. (Frodo Baggins is just a hobbit of the Shire, who likes to have fun with his friends and cousins.)
Then, all of a sudden, someone comes to the hero and reveals that there is a lot more to this "normal" world than the hero thought. There are powerful forces of both good and evil. These forces have been watching the hero for a long time, waiting for the opportune moment to catch him or her for their side, because the hero has some gift, something special, that will help either side to win. Usually, the good guys get to our hero first. (Gandalf tells Frodo the truth about his Ring and counsels him what to do.)
After a struggle, in which the hero may beg to be excused from the fight or simply refuse to believe what the good guys say, the hero eventually joins the good side. (After trying to avoid the task and the danger for some time, Frodo accepts the duty to take the Ring to Mordor.)
Immediately, the bad guys ramp up their efforts, trying to either convert our hero or destroy him or her. (The Black Riders pursue Frodo to the very gates of Rivendell, and every evil creature on the quest seizes on him first out of all the company.)
However, the hero has the help of every good and wise creature in the world, as well as the supernatural forces of good and the power of his or her own gift. (The Fellowship of the Ring helps Frodo reach his destination. So do two great kingdoms of Men and two very powerful Elves. Unfortunately, Frodo's Ring can't be used without great danger, but it comes in handy occasionally.)
The struggles are great, but in the end, the good guys triumph, our hero among them. (Sauron is destroyed, the king returns to his throne, and Frodo sails away into the West to a land of healing and rest.)
Now, think about your own life.
Most people live pretty normal lives. Of course, there is something about every person that is "abnormal," but most of us try to fit in as much as possible. You have certain talents and abilities, that you practice every day, but you may think there's nothing really special about you. Then, one day, someone reveals to you that there is more to this "normal" world than you thought. There is a Creator who is ultimate good, that is, God; and there is also an Enemy of our souls, that is, Satan. If no one has told you yet, very well, I'm telling you now. Unfortunately, in this world, the bad guys have gotten to us first. We're already enslaved to them, using our gifts and talents for their purposes, though we think we're using them for ourselves. (How many times today did you and I hurt someone for our own personal gain? Too many.) The "good guys," though, never give up. They--that is, He--is engaged in a rescue mission of gigantic proportions. He's here to save us, and to give us a chance to use our talents to help Him save the world, if we choose His side. Some of us struggle more than others, but if you are a Christian, if you've trusted Jesus to save you from your sins, then you've accepted the quest and you're on the good side. You're on an adventure. It is this adventure, this journey, that will be the topic of my next "life is a fantasy" post.
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