Life as a Story

I've been thinking about my life as a story with the hope that someday, somehow, it might end up being a story that a person a few generations down the line would be interested in reading. I would hope that by the time they finished my story they would be encouraged and inspired to continue on, to make a difference, to be all that God made them to be. Then I was thinking, why don't I see my life that way right now? Aren't all of our lives worth being written about? Our stories are all so unique. The way that we have done life up to this very moment has been so vastly different than the way the person down the road has done theirs. Perhaps our lives are book-worthy now.

I just finished watching The Hobbit for the first time about an hour ago. Yeah, I'm behind the times. Not my fault. Anyways, something struck me in the storyline that I had not noticed when I read the book about 5 years ago. I have been noticing the same thing in the Harry Potter series that I have been listening to on audio book. It has been rolling around in my mind for the past couple of days. It's that in most good, well-written stories, the main character is generally a nobody when you are first introduced to them. They are going about their lives the way that they have always gone about their lives. They do the things that their culture, society, and social standing expect them to do. There is very little disturbance in their comings and goings. The character seems content with where they are. Likely the thought of changing their surroundings or lifestyles has not even been considered, or if it has been, the thought is thrown out immediately as preposterous and possibly dangerous to the well being of anyone that might be involved in the change.

Then the inevitable happens. A random circumstance or run-in occurs. The character, the nobody, suddenly finds out that they are a wizard or a princess or even just somebody created for an incredible adventure. And then they become a somebody. Several challenges may present themselves throughout the story, whether a physical challenge or a situation, to test the true character and charisma of the hero. Pretty basic story material.

But there's something else I have noticed in these incredible stories I have let my brain and emotions become involved in (I tend to get lost in a good story...). There is almost always a subplot dancing its way alongside the main plot. Most stories have the good guys and the bad guys. Then there are the inbetweeners who desperately cling to what they have experienced before, the "facts" that have been proved by evidence they can see, and the way things have always been done while the more extreme-leaning characters hold fast to what they believe is true even if there is no way to prove with tangible evidence that what they are saying is true and the inbetweeners think they are crazy. No matter how many times someone tries to get these stubborn inbetweeners to open their eyes and understand reality, there appears (much to the onlooker's frustration) that they will never accept the truth. Often times, the main character will go to great lengths and risks to try to convince the naysayers of the truth that might save them from perilous situations or embarrassment when the truth comes fully into the light. And yet these inbetweeners hold unswervingly to their idea of the truth because of their pride, their fear, or their lack of discernment and trust. In most cases, by the end of the book or movie the main character finally defeats all odds, and the "ridiculous" truth they had been trying to convey the whole time proves to actually be true. The inbetweeners are proved wrong... with great humiliation on their part.

I don't want to be an inbetweener. I don't want to get so caught up in the way I think things must be done or in the way I think things should work that I become the character in the story everyone hates because of their ignorance and pride and I miss out on being part of the team that defeats the bad guys, realizing the truth too late. I don't want to be the stuck up person in the story that everyone hopes becomes involved in a tragic accident and never returns to the dialogue.

I want to be the character who fights for what I know is the truth. I want to be in conflict and trial so I can be developed and my personal character can be tested and strengthened. I want to be part of the group that goes after what is right no matter the cost to reputation, health, or personal gain.

Maybe if I put down the pen and stop trying to write my story the way I think it should be, God can start writing it the way He wants it to be written. I have a feeling He has some crazy plot twists in mind for the story of my life that will be unlike anyone else's story. Maybe if He writes it instead of me, it will be a story others will want to read. He might write a story that will challenge people to learn and grow from reading about the experiences and adventures that only happened because He had the opportunity to be the pen holder. Maybe it's time for me to stop trying to think of a creative plot for my life story and let the Creator of life do it for me.