This post was a blast
to write. Thank you to Tracey Dyck from Adventure Awaits for tagging me for
this post. And a thank you to Jenelle Schmidt as well, as both of the tags originated
on her blog.
What will now commence is
the completion of the two fantasy themed tags I was tagged to complete. The first
will be on lessons from fantasy, and the second is a “What if” scenario.
Let the fun begin!
Life Lessons Learned from Fantasy
6 lessons- You’ll
see me refer to Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Narnia A LOT!
1.
We all have a part to play
We each matter and we
each are gifted in a way indispensable to the success and well-being of others.
There is a role He has gifted each of us for that only we can do. Some fantasy examples coming to mind would be Luke Skywalker being the only one that could save his father. Taking the
ring was Frodo’s task. But the lesson applies to each of us no matter our role. You matter! (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)
2.
Sacrifice and love
Love and sacrifice come
across in the fantasy I most enjoy. It is not for selfish gain that Frodo
journeys to Mordor to destroy the ring. The heroes in Star Wars don’t risk
their lives out of selfishness. Peace, justice, freedom, love, etc. are the
motive. (John 15:13 "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." NLT)
3.
We need each other
The fact Gimli declared
that the fellowship failed might seem to contradict us needing each other, but
it doesn’t. Frodo’s friends’ actions were imperative in allowing him to
destroy the ring. Han and Leia got the shields down to let Lando destroy the
death star in episode 6. We all intrinsically know that we need each other.
It’s not weak to admit that.
4.
Deception sucks. Know truth
There are tragic
moments in cinema that stand out to me. Some of the most tragic scenes take
place, are in Revenge of the Sith. Anakin is deceived. Anakin believes a lie and
acts in unspeakable ways. Had he believed and
followed the truth; he never would have done what he did. Obi-Wan said; “He was deceived by a
lie. We all were.” (John 17:17: "Sanctify them by the truth; Your Word is truth.")
5.
Evil doesn't stand a chance
Evil never wins in the
fantasy I enjoy. There might be tough times, but there’s always a happy ending.
The empire is destroyed and Vader is redeemed as Anakin Skywalker. Aslan
resurrects and the White Witch is destroyed. Sauron is destroyed and Aragon
becomes king. God is on my side and I need not fear.
6.
Awestruck of my Creator
It's true that not
every fantasy film or novel delves into allegory, but one can still see the
love of God and His majesty shining through. In every epic fantasy I watch; I think of
the wonders of God. As you look at the mountains at the beginning of "The Two Towers"; doesn't that inspire you somehow? As I see the vastness of the Star Wars galaxy; I think about how there really are billions of galaxies that God has created. That's cool. And to think that the God that created the galaxies created me and you and that He came to die for me and for you...that's just amazing!
1.
Your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. The cast of the most recent
fantasy book you've read comes to your assistance . . . Who are they? Will they
be helpful?
I get Kadin and Leira
from “Quest for Celestia”. They sure would be helpful! Once they know you're a
fellow vagabond, they will do everything they can to help you. Seeing some of
the impossible situations they battle through in the book; fixing a car would
be a piece of cake.
2.
You go to bed one evening and wake up in the lair of the villain of the last
fairytale you read. Where are you and how do you plan to get out?
The last fairy tale I
watched was Shrek 4. So that puts me in a tough spot; chained in Rumpelstiltskin’s
dungeon and destined to die when the sun rises or by being eaten by a dragon!
Whichever comes first. Ultimately I'm reliant upon my friends to save me. I'd
try my best to pick the lock of my chains, disguise myself as a guard, and then sneak out of the castle to get to my friends.
3.
You are transported into a fantasy realm and given a mythical creature as a
companion and best friend . . . Which mythical creature do you get?
A talking lion or tiger would be real cool!
4.
In a strange series of coincidences, you end up needing to take the place of
your favorite fantasy hero or heroine. Who are you?
I really like Obi-Wan Kenobi. His role is quite a daunting one.
5.
To go along with question #4, now that you are that character, is there
anything you would do differently than that character, now that you are running
the show?
I would take Anakin
with me to fight General Griveous. And I'd try to be less snarky with him when he was a young padawan.
6.
If you were yourself in a fantasy novel, what role do you think you would play
in the story?
I'd be proud
to be the trusty and stable sidekick that has a couple of one liners to help
the hero or heroine on their journey.
7.
One morning, as you are going about your daily business, you pick up an
everyday item and a voice booms in your head with prophetic words about your
future. What object is it, and what is the prophecy?
As I grab a bowl for my
breakfast; I hear; "You have been chosen. Go the the outdoor hockey rink tomorrow at 2:17 for further instructions.” As you can see; I was not sure how to answer this one haha.
8.
You are transported into a magical realm and turned into a mythical beast . . .
What beast/fantasy creature do you want to be?
The Elves seem pretty
cool in Lord of the Rings.
9.
If you could read your way into any fantasy realm, but the catch is you can
never leave, would you? Which realm would you choose?
Narnia would be the
place I'd choose without question. Star Wars and Middle-Earth both seem epic,
but Narnia is still the better universe. There’s a sense of peace in Narnia
that doesn’t exist in any of the other universes. And it’s because Aslan is
there!
10.
As you are going about your normal day, you discover that you have a magical power.
What is it?
I'd love the ability to
know the truth in each situation. That'd be real helpful. To be able to become invisible could be cool. Being able to fly would be kind of cool too.
Conclusion
Well that's the end of the post. Hope you enjoyed it. And to anybody reading this; I tag you to complete one or both of these fantasy tag exercises! Zero pressure, but they can be a lot of fun and a great time of reflection. Please let me know if you decided to take the challenge. I'd love to take a look at your post when it's up.
Here's an
article I wrote talking about how God can connect with you using story