Lo’s Literary Life Lessons: Finding Truth in Fiction: An Introduction
“The word of the Lord that came to Joel son of Pethuel:
Hear this, O elders,
give ear, all inhabitants of the land!
Has such a thing happened in your days,
or in the days of your ancestors?
Tell your children of it,
and let your children tell their children,
and their children another generation.”
Autumn is upon us. It came rather quickly this year. I woke up this morning and suddenly it was 50 degrees and overcast. I love it. Now is the time for bonfires and long walks in the crisp air. We get to watch the leaves change and make as much chilli as physically possible. I even pulled out my autumn decorations yesterday much to the chagrin of my husband. More than warm soups and long talks and pumpkin spiced lattes my favorite part about fall is that it’s the perfect time to curl up in a sweater and blanket with a cup of tea, a lit candle, and a good book.
I have a corner set up in my office to do just that. It’s a comfy chair with a Lord of the Rings blanket and Harry Potter pillow. My Captain America mug is ready for tea and the candle is scented “Through the Wardrobe”. There are clearly a few stories I read more than others.
Maybe the only thing I love more than Autumn and my dog is a good story. When I find one I like I dive deep. I become a fervent fan; rereading, researching, and generally obsessing about the book, movie, game or series I have encountered. I’m not alone. There are large swaths of people online comparing theories and discussing the mutual experience of the story. We call these communities “Fandoms”. Chris and I are in a lot of the same fandoms which is why most of the gifts we give each other are themed around our favorite books, games or movies. The same goes for my close friends. We invest so much of ourselves into the characters, events and worlds of these stories that they become a part of us.
Stories are, of course, deeply biblical. We often say that the Bible is less of a single book and more of a library. A good portion of the books in this particular library are narratives and the whole bible tells the story of a God who deeply loves the world and is willing to sacrifice everything to have a relationship with God’s people. Woven into the stories of God and God’s people is the command to tell stories. Yahweh instructs the Israelites to tell the story of The Exodus to their children. Mary and Martha recount the tale of the empty tomb for the disciples. The early church carries the narrative of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection all over the Mediterranean. Indeed, often the most effective form of evangelism is telling your own story and sharing how God is present within it.
The point is that stories are integral to how we understand God, ourselves and the world. They are also crucial to how we communicate the grace of God. These stories can come both from the bible and beyond it.
For me works of fiction, things that are clearly not real, reveal fundamental truths. I don’t believe Narnia exists through some wardrobe in England. I don’t think Hobbits are hiding in holes in the ground or that magic wands can fix our problems. However, I understand the truth of the gospel and the legitimacy of Jesus much more because I walked with Lucy and Mr. Tumnus, cried with Sam as Frodo sailed away, and fought alongside Harry in the battle for Hogwarts.
Over the next three months I am going to talk about six fandoms; six stories, that changed my life and how I understand Jesus. Though none of them are explicitly religious I have witnessed God deeply in the experience of these stories. In the next few months I invite you to read, watch, or listen to a story yourself. You can pick something you know or something entirely new. Take some time to reflect on what it teaches you about God, yourself or the world around you. If you would like to try one of the narratives I am writing about here is a list.
The stories I am exploring are:
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
These books are great for families to read together. Please read them in the order they were published, not the chronological order. Fandoms are very passionate about how you read things. The correct way to read these books is as follows:
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Prince Caspian
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Silver Chair
The Horse and His Boy
The Magician’s Nephew
The Last Battle
Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
These books are DENSE. If you are not into high fantasy simply watch the movies. Honestly, just watch the movies because they are AMAZING. The Hobbit is a much easier read and might be better for mid-range readers.
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
You thought these books were just for children. I dare you not to cry. I dare you.
Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas
These books are definitely for an older audience. They are the most explicit of the stories on this list. Throne of Glass is seven books long. A Court of Thorns and Roses is three books + a novella. A word of warning: this author takes a little while to hit her stride in the stories so power through the first third of either series.
Marvel’s The Avengers
These are a set of comic books. You can also watch the MCU movies from Disney. I will be focusing primarily on Captain America, The Avengers movies, and the Civil War Cycle.
Hamilton
This musical came out in 2016 but is now available on Disney+. I advise you to watch it like you were going to a show on Broadway. Turn off your phone and get set up for the long haul. Also, watch it with subtitles. Yes, really. It’s important.
Maybe dive into these stories. Maybe hang out with ones you already know and love. Maybe pick a story arc from the bible! Just be ready to lean into truths revealed in fiction, and understanding born from imagination.
So, grab your blanket, light the candle and boil the water for tea. It’s story time.