When I first thought about starting this blog, I pondered for weeks about what to name it. I went back and forth between several names, but
I kept coming back to “fairy tales.” And
before you think I’m one of those ditsy Disney-obsessed women with movie
posters and Little Mermaid sheets, think again… I’m most definitely not. But what I am is someone who has a strong
sense of justice. I always have. I can’t stand unfairness, ineffectiveness, or
things that aren’t logical. Something within
me is always trying to make things right…to make things make sense. I have always been extremely saddened and
even infuriated by how people’s immoral and selfish choices negatively affect
their lives and families and how sin has caused our world to become so very
broken. So, I suppose it only makes
sense that I am enamored with fairy tales.
Fairy tales stand for everything that is good, right, true, and pure in
this world….much like the words spoken in Phillipians 4:8,
“Finally,
brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is
excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”
So.... I was pondering about fairy tales and
their importance to culture, literature, and life, I picked up my laptop, and I just started writing….and the
words kept flowing. So the following is
my little “essay” that explains my view fairy tales and how I believe they can
truly inspire us to live on purpose with truth, morality, and purity.. and more importantly give us a deeper understanding of God:
What is it about fairy tales that are
so incredibly captivating? Since
childhood, I have always been drawn to fairy tale stories, and even today I
find myself wrapped up in them whenever I read them to my first graders. Fairy tales are truly one genre of literature
which have stood the test of time, and I think I have figured out why. Not so long ago, I heard a lot of talk about
how fairy tales were “dangerous” stories that exposed children to evil things
that they shouldn’t see or hear about such as witches and dragons, and how
fairy tales had unrealistic plots that gave children false expectations and hope about life
and love. I, however, see Fairy Tales from exactly the opposite
perspective. I truly believe that fairy
tales have unparalleled spiritual symbolism, and resonate with something much
deeper within us…something that is woven into the very framework of our own
human experience. Not only do they serve
as a vehicle for teaching us about morality, love, honor, courage, sacrifice,
hard work, and justice, but I see Fairy Tales as portraying the same battle
that we face today as Christians in the world – a spiritual battle against Good
and Evil. And guess what? In every single fairy tale story, Good always
wins over Evil! “But that is unrealistic!”
one might say. “Good doesn’t always win
over Evil in real life….” Well, actually……as
a matter of fact, it does. (In the words
of my pastor, Perry Noble, “If it’s not good, God’s not done!”) Good has
already won in this world, because our Lord and Savior has already paid the ultimate
price for our sins. We are already saved!! The war against Good and Evil is already
won. But that doesn’t mean that there
aren’t numerous battles still to be fought.
The Evil One continues to engage us in spiritual warfare, pulling the strings
of our hearts away from God and towards the ways of the world through all means necessary. But while we are still fighting battles with
Satan, we shouldn’t fear him or his stronghold over this world, because if the
Lord is within us, we are protected and our war is already won.
In the words of the Christian singer, Christ August in his song "Battle,"
There’s a battle between good and evil
And it’s raging inside of me
There’s a struggle - it’s God and the devil
It’s Love against the Enemy...
Life’s a fight of wrong and right
That’s tearing me apart
Oh but what the cross has done
Yeah the world will try to battle for my heart
But the war is already won
And it’s raging inside of me
There’s a struggle - it’s God and the devil
It’s Love against the Enemy...
Life’s a fight of wrong and right
That’s tearing me apart
Oh but what the cross has done
Yeah the world will try to battle for my heart
But the war is already won
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| Here is me and my Groom and our first married kiss! |
Some
of the most loved Fairy Tales are ones that portray a female character who has
been oppressed and a male character who comes to save/awaken her (usually with
true love’s kiss, of course). While many
feminists might interpret that as a portrayal of women as the weaker, inferior
gender, I see that as perfect symbolism of Christ (the Bridegroom) coming to save/awaken
the Church (the Bride). Aren't we as the Church awaiting the Savior's coming just like a beautiful princess in a fairy tale awaits her handsome prince?One must remember that fairy tales aren’t always about wonderful, beautiful, and perfect things. If there was ever a genre of literature to portray all of the horrible things of life - injustice, oppression, cruelty, hatred, jealousy, etc. – it is Fairy Tales. So, in a way, the struggles and terrible things that the fairy tale characters face are some of the very same ones we face in today’s world. Think about Cinderella, for example. She was basically a slave in her own home, treated cruelly and unfairly and made to work long hours in deplorable conditions without so much as a thank you. However, she continued to do the right thing by treating her stepmother and stepsisters with kindness and respect and putting 100% effort into her work. Her life was anything but a “fairy tale,” but in the end she met the one who could bring her out of the broken world she lived in and into the Kingdom. I think the symbolism there is quite evident.
Part of the reason that human beings are never quite satisfied with this world is because we were never meant to be satisfied by this world. This world isn’t our home. It’s just a stopping place. We seek beauty and perfection in the things of this world and are drawn to stories like fairy tales, because we yearn for more. We long, on either a conscious or subconscious level to be in Heaven with our Heavenly Father where we will finally experience true beauty, perfection, and our very own Happily Ever After.
So that....in a
