My pastor started out his first sermon of the year talking about Star Wars. I love that guy.
And I've always loved Star Wars even though I'm a chicken when it comes to watching action and adventure films. Those who know me well know that I am a huge fan of spoilers. I want to be prepared for the unexpected. I want to know if it ends happily or if any of the main characters face peril or die. I want someone to nudge me when its time to cover my eyes.
It occurred to me today, listening to my pastor speak, why I am so drawn to this saga and other epic stories such as The Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, etc. Turns out, its not just because I'm a huge nerd! It is because they are epic adventures that demonstrate the best and worst in all of us - the light and dark side, if you will. These are stories of struggle, of bravery, of heartache, of redemption. The redemption story resonates with me and it is one that needs to continue to be told.
So now I look at my own story. I have a new year with blank pages ready to be filled. I don't want to repeat past chapters. Nobody would want to read those again anyway. One thing I do know is that I don't want to a supporting character in my tale anymore - I want to be the main character. I want to be the heroine who overcomes heartaches and unthinkable odds, who's bravery awakens at just the appointed time, who surprises herself with her own strength, not because of who she is, but because she discovers the powerful Force that abides within.
Because the reality is, the adventures in my story are tied into the ultimate epic adventure. The Lord of the universe became flesh and dwelt among us, not for His sake, but ours. He came to be the light of the world. Through His death He conquered the darkness once and for all. And He did it all so I could be a child of God. So I could have access to that light and share its Source with others. So I could experience first hand the all-powerful force that is available to all that believe. And its truly inspiring to see how all of ours stories are woven together to create an amazing masterpiece, a best-seller, a box office phenomenon.
Its exciting to recognize my place in the bigger plan, that I'm part of the cast and not just an extra. But, some days its terrifying because I don't have access to spoilers and I don't know when to plug my ears and close my eyes. Being a part of the adventure is worth it, though. Plus, I do already know how the story ends. And when the credits start to roll, I want my Director to say "nicely done".
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