I am not very good at coming up with catchy labels, so please excuse what might be a rather trite title for my blog. But, as I was thinking about what to name this blog, I decided on "Living the Story" because of my over-arching interest in biblical theology- that is, reading the Bible as a whole and tracing themes, plots and subplots from the beginning to the end and seeing how all of the dots connect.

In reading the Bible in such a way as to read it as a whole, we need to be aware of both micro-and macro- plots. There are micro-plots in the Bible that extend from the beginning of one episode to the end of it. A classic example would be the Jacob episode which appears in Genesis, chapters 25-36. We begin his story with his rather strange birth- clutching the heel of his twin brother Esau as they emerge from the womb (Gen. 25:24-26). Thus, he is named "Jacob", the "heel-grabber" or "supplanter", "circumventer", "the guy who will grab your heel and pull himself forward at your loss". And Jacob is true to his name! He takes advantage of his simpleton brother twice, before fleeing for fear of his brother's wrath. On the way out of the land, he has a meeting with God with whom he tries to barter (Gen. 28:20-22) and then goes on to meet up with his Uncle Laban who shows him how cheating and manipulation is really done! Jacob finally returns to his homeland after 20 years of getting taken advantage of, but runs into the same God with whom he tried to haggle with and winds up in an all-night wrestling match with God. In what is obviously more than a mere physical contest, God drops him like a wet bag of cement after dislocating his hip (Gen. 32:24-32). I find this a fascinating little link in the plot when God tells Jacob to let Him go before daybreak (might the darkness be veiling God's glory and protecting Jacob from extinction?). What could Jacob possibly be holding onto to evoke such a comment? His heel perhaps? The story of Jacob's life is coming full circle as God has lived it with him and changed him from "Jacob" (the "cheat") to "Israel" (the one who "struggles with God"). Thus, a smaller story of struggling with God inside the bigger story of God's renovation of the whole created order...but a story we too live out all the time, if we're paying attention!!

There are also macro-plots: redemption, the presence of God, covenant, kingdom, etc.... God's story is a masterful weaving of themes in which we fall from innocence and joy into a world gone bad, only to encounter God and to move from prisoner to freeman and to re-engage the story as a different character altogether. And at the center of the story is the hero who is willing to give his life for everyone else's life. The author of Hebrews says that, in fact, this ultimate sacrifice is only "fitting" considering all of the great hero stories (Heb. 2:10).

It is funny, but the more you watch the great hero movies, the more these themes keep recurring. Take for instance, some recent-ish movies.

• What happens in Braveheart? William Wallace goes willingly into a trap and is martyred, only to have his death be the impetus for Scotland's surge for freedom from English oppression. Hmm.
• What happens in Armageddon? Bruce Willis' character stays on the asteroid careening towards earth and sacrifices himself to save the planet. Hmm.
• What happens in The Lord of the Rings? An otherwise insignificant character (a hobbit name Frodo Baggins) chooses to carry the ring of power right into enemy territory, willingly sacrificing himself in order to break the stranglehold of the dark lord, Sauron and save Middle-earth. Hmm.
• What happens in The Matrix? Neo goes back to save his friend Morpheus, dies while saving him, rises again (at the kiss of Trinity) with power to overcome the forces of evil and then (the very last clip) ascends into the skies. Hmm.

The story of C.S. Lewis' conversion goes something like this: Lewis had moved from atheism to theism, but was struggling with the idea of Christianity. According to a biographer, he, J.R.R. Tolkien and another man (afraid his name has slipped my mind) were on a walk and they were talking about Christianity and myths (Lewis was placing the two into the same category). Lewis mused that the stories were beautiful, but that they were lies though "breathed through silver". Instead of refuting Lewis' categories, Tolkien made a bold claim. He stated that the myths were NOT lies, but were in fact true. And the basic gist of his argument was that all of the myths still pointed down the same storyline- innocence, fall, redemption and restoration. In fact, ALL of our great hero stories tell the same tale though with different characters and different variations. And the "root" story they told was the story of the Bible in which Jesus proves to be the ultimate hero, sacrificing himself to save us all!! We cannot help it. Our stories keep reflecting God's story even though it is often reflected through the shattered shards of our fallenness. At that point, Lewis turned the corner and became a convinced follower of Jesus Christ!!

But, I am calling this blog "Living the Story" because the story is not yet complete. The Bible is somewhat open-ended. The Book of Acts stops right in the middle of the story. Revelation is still future-oriented. We are to find ourselves in the story of God's redemption and ask what character we are currently playing, how God wants to transform, mold and shape that character and how we become active participants in the plot!! Can you imagine the difference in perspective if Frodo Baggins had a copy of The Lord of the Rings even as he was living out the story on the stage of reality? That is my primary passion: helping people see the storylines of life and relating it to the one trustworthy story: the Scriptures!!

So welcome to my blog. I look forward to engaging with you in all matters of the story: theological, political, everyday life struggles, etc.... And I look forward to hearing your perspectives as well!!