the universal answer

This is the last season of HBOs Game of Thrones. If you are one of the few who don't watch it, Game of Thrones is a fantasy fiction show in which there are fire breathing dragons, tragedy to rival Shakespeare, and apocalyptic frozen zombies bent on destroying the 7 kingdoms of Westeros. Of course being HBO there is crudity, nudity, and violence...

At this time, I'm not going to debate whether or not this is something a Christian should watch or not watch. If you haven't watched it as of yet, I don't insist that you do or recommend it as something to invest your time in. 

But what I have enjoyed about watching this show is that it's a common relevant topic to discuss with strangers, acquaintances, and friends. It's interesting to listen to people's grasp on what happened in the last episode, their theories about what will happen next, and who they think will ultimately succeed in obtaining the throne. It truly is interesting. There are not many things that people can discuss with enthusiasm and honesty, which is sad. Politics - No. Religion - Ha. Weather - Yawn.

I connect with the show because of one character in particular - Jon Snow, the bastard son of Ned Stark who time reveals is really the legitimate son and true heir to the entire kingdom. 

Why is it we mortals have invented so many stories about someone being more than they first appear to be? What is it about that theme that connects with us? It is repeated over and over again in literature, film, and theater. Is it because universally humankind longs for life to be more than it seems to be on the surface? Is it because we subconsciously know that man is more than he appears to be? 

The Hero's Journey - Mythic Structure of Joseph Campbell's Monomyth

The question of "What is man?" is not a new one. The questions in our search for meaning and purpose are plenty: Are we just a bunch of chemistry that came together randomly and that is it? Are the things we do significant to the universe at all, will they last in anyway long after we are dust? Are we nothing more than big slightly more complicated lizards beholden to the primal limbic brain? Are we truly capable of love, sacrifice, and loyalty and if so, why?

The most epic and original "Hero's Journey" is the one God preordained and completed over 2000 years ago now. Think about it. What is Christianity claiming? It's claiming that God who is outside of time, beyond it, above it, creator of it - entered into it as a human. Actually, first he was what we would today label a "fetus" and then he was a baby; a baby born like the billions of us are, have been, and God willing will be. This total God/total human wasn't born into a traditional family, no, but to a virgin girl and her fiancé during a foreign occupied dictatorship of their homeland. He wasn't born in a mansion with OBYGNs on standby and a fine crafted crib from Pottery Barn Kids to sleep in. Not at all. His "Hero's Journey" goes on from these humble beginnings and only becomes more insanely amazing, historic, prophecy fulfilling, global impacting, destiny altering, evil destroying, kingdom building, personally relevant, life changing, soul saving, event of all times. 

Under what captivates the masses, is the universal longing of all man - someone worth living and worth dying for. Do you know such a Man? Thanks be to God forever that He can be known to us. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). xo

YET I AM NOT ALONE

"Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me." John 16:32

I wonder if abandonment is just as painful if it's predicted. I wonder if knowing that those closest to us wouldn't be sticking around during the toughest times would lessen the blow in any way.

I doubt that the gift of foresight and omniscience lessens the loss; it may even heighten the pain.

Jesus was not surprised by anything anybody did. He knew that when the shepherd is struck down the sheep scatter (Matthew 26:31). But He didn't despair. When I read... "each will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me" I was awed and deeply encouraged.

I know we all have lost people close to us. Either by disease and death or by distance and time - we all lose people we love. If you have not, you will.

But remember the words of Jesus when you feel or are most alone - You are not alone, the Father is with you. If He can say it, know it, believe it at the toughest times He ever knew, we can too. xo

a JOY that can't be taken

"So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you." John 16:22

There are not many joys that last forever. Some joys are overtaken by the sorrows and sufferings of this world. Some joys become like ashes in our mouths when it is found that it was founded on untrue love and broken promises. Some joys are stolen by the grueling unstoppable hand of time.

There are not many joys that last forever.

Jesus promises a joy that no one can take away. A bliss that can't be blighted by the many sufferings of this world. An exuberance that no human being - whether it be a king or dictator, lover or enemy, friend or foe - can seize from you. A delight that time cannot diminish or dull.

What is this joy He is talking about?

John 16 is an amazing chapter. It's primarily all red - filled to the brim with the words of Jesus. He starts with a frank warning that dangerous murderous times are coming for His followers. His motives in speaking so plainly: "I have said all these things to keep you from falling away." (John 16:1) He speaks truly about the harsh realties coming for Himself (foreshadowing His being seized, arrested, and executed) and the sorrow His followers will feel at the loss of His physical, bodily presence. He counters those realities with a promise that these horrors are to our advantage because He will send a Helper.

The joy that Jesus references - this joy that no one will take away - is the joy of Jesus' resurrection.

Sorrows didn't define Him.
Suffering didn't defeat Him.
Death didn't destroy Him.

He said "I will see you again."  I will see you again after, after my earthly followers and spiritual brothers abandon me, after I am wrongfully tried and convicted, after I am mocked and mutilated, after I am crucified in agony - after, I will see you again. He foreshadowed that this seeing of Him resurrected, alive, glorified - will bring a rejoicing that is never-ending. "It is finished" He proclaimed from the cross. The question of unending joy has always been, "Do you see Him?" I plead with all of us to embrace the only joy that can't be taken; there is no joy like Jesus. xo