Tell Me A Story

 

Tell Me a Story

I like a good story – true or make believe. One with a satisfying ending, preferably where the bad guys get what’s coming to them. Truth winning over lies – Good winning over evil – the hero running in to rescue in the nick of time – these are stories we all enjoy.

Here’s some opening lines from some of my favorite and yet to be favorite stories:

Somewhere in la Mancha, in a place whose name I do not care to remember, a gentleman lived not long ago, one of those who has a lance and ancient shield on a shelf and keeps a skinny nag and a greyhound for racing. ~ Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote, 1605

This was a long, weird read, but Don Quixote was a hero of sorts – he had faith in his ideas and suffered for them. He didn’t let popular culture or opinion sway his determination.

Here’s a classic:

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Life, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. ~ Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 1859

Tragedy and triumph in one remarkable read – set during the French Revolution – which contrary to popular belief has no similarities to the American one – even though that opening line could be versatile in its application to time periods!

This one I haven’t read yet, but this sentence intrigues me:

The human race, to which so many of my readers belong, has been playing children’s games from the beginning and will probably do it till the end, which is a nuisance for the few people who grow up. ~ GK Chesterton, The Napoleon of Notting Hill, 1904

If that statement doesn’t cover the reality of the last few years, I don’t know what does!

Last but not least, from a perennial favorite:

There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it. ~ CS Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, 1952

But Eustace was redeemed – and it made for a darn good story.

In the Bible is the best story – a true one – where the hero saves His people – darkness indeed reigns for a season – but light dawns and the Good Guy wins – and the bad guys get what they deserve.

Focusing in on Psalm 11, we find someone hanging in there while those around him are freaking out. Let’s look at it:

In the Lord I take refuge;

How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain; for, behold, the wicked bend the bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string to shoot in darkness at the upright in heart. If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

Upon the wicked He will rain snares; fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.

For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face.

This psalm presents a simple, straightforward choice – trust the Lord or let fear rule your life.

The psalmist declares, The Lord is my refuge – my safe place – my sanctuary – I trust Him!

He asks his counselors, friends, the voices that be – How can you tell me to run, to fear, to hide? How can you say the enemy is stronger and that there is no hope?

He reminds these panicky friends – the Lord is sovereign – do you think He doesn’t see or know what’s going on in the world? Do you think He can’t save? Do you think now is the time He will let you down?

Then he tells us it’s all a test!

The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked – He measures their response – He’s watching to see how we handle what comes our way. Will we glorify Him or cower in fear?

He hates the wicked – a very sobering thought. They will reap what they’ve sown. There will be payback – no one gets away with anything. God knows – if that doesn’t check someone’s spirit, they probably deserve what they are going to get.

But He loves the righteous – they will see His face. What could be better?

Don’t be afraid – if you are the Lord’s, He is your refuge. Stop hiding under the bed and stand.

Whatever happens – the Good Guy wins!