The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

So (I begin a lot of sentences with "so." I should work on that.) in my British Literature class, we talk about...well, literature. With discussion of literature comes discussion of genre--such as romantic texts. We look at the structure of a romance, it's key characters and plot devices so that we can better classify other texts.

Are you ready to be educated?
(This really isn't that complex, and most of you probably know all this anyway, but I digress.)

Now, to have a romance, you need some specific things. First, the plot structure. A romance, at its simplest, involves three story arcs--an integration, a disintegration, and a reintegration.

For example, look at any romantic comedy ever. For the sake of this blog post, we're going to look at Aladdin (because it's awesome).

In the beginning of the film, our thieving hero meets the gorgeous heroine, and, true to Disney form, they immediately fall in love. This would be the integration.

An important note: The series of integration does not necessarily have to involve an eros kind of love. It can be a familial or national unit--really any kind of grouping.

Okay, so now our protagonists are integrated and in love. BUT WAIT. What good story doesn't involve some conflict? Cue disintegration. Now, Aladdin actually has a layered plot in that Jasmine and Aladdin experience integration and disintegration twice. Right after their first integration, they are separated because our poor unfortunate soul (hehe I'm hilarious) is arrested. However, they are integrated again when Aladdin returns under the guise of the magnificent Prince Ali. It is after this that the climactic disintegration occurs: Aladdin's secret is revealed, putting him out of Jasmine's good graces, and sending him packing on a one way trip where his prospects take a terminal dip.

During the disintegration, the protagonist usually goes on some quest involving dangers and a discovery of one's identity. It's usually difficult--emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually, or all of the above--but the main character comes out of it stronger than before and with a better understanding of who they are, and, consequently, who they are with the original unit. So Aladdin gets evicted by Jafar, causing him to realize his childishness. He is no longer concerned merely with getting the pretty girl to like him, but with saving his friends--no matter the cost. (Our little boy's all grown up.)

Finally, after risking life and limb for his beloved, and forsaking his lies, Aladdin is reintegrated with Jasmine (and Genie, actually--an example of another layered plot), and they live happily ever after! The end.

So now you know the basic plot structure of a (comedic) romance. They can also end in tragedy--like Tristan and Ysolt or Romeo and Juliet--where the lovers are reunited only by dying together.

Just some final key things to note: classic romances also typically involve...

• A love story (which can sometimes be secondary)
• People of the upper class (knights, nobles, monarchs, etc.)
• Magic or some other supernatural force--even Christianity

Okay, now that I've probably bored most of you away, I'll get to my point.

We are a part of the greatest love story ever told. You probably know where I'm going with this, and you've probably even heard that phrase before, but it just clicked for me, basically blowing my mind.

As humans, we were integrated with the all-loving God at the beginning of creation. Adam and Eve walked with Him in the Garden. I imagine they laughed, hugged, fed squirrels, and just loved each other--Adam and Eve learning more about God all the time. It was love at first sight.

However, like Aladdin, we kind of messed things up. And by "kind of," I mean, oh boy, did we really screw up. We stole from and lied to our Creator God. We had to be separated.

BUT WAIT; THERE'S MORE. This is where the fun stuff comes in. Jesus Christ descended, bridging the gap between Bride and Groom for the ultimate reintegration, which happens only through the supernatural intercession of God. Furthermore, this story involves nobles, for we are His chosen race, joint-heirs with Christ, children of the most High King.

Our story, like any good narrative, is a little layered. We still have to go through life here on earth, which is wrought with pain, trials, and self-discovery, but soon, we'll be with Him for eternity.

We are living with Him happily ever after, and I don't know about you guys, but I can't wait to return home.

The best thing about this love story? We will never hear the words "The End."

You Okay? No. And That's Okay.

So I have this friend who is really close to me. The last couple years of high school, we did all kinds of stuff together. Anything from running around in blanket capes, to McDonald's in our PJs, to deep late night conversations.

One time, during one of our late night conversations, she said something that revolutionized my life. I don't remember what we were talking about, I don't remember the day, but I remember the words.

"It's okay not to be okay."

That sentence changed how I thought about everything. We have this weird custom in our culture (I'm sure you're aware of it) where we greet each other with the phrase, "How are you?" The typical response, I know you'll remember, is "I'm good." This response is given regardless of circumstances.

Now don't worry, I'm not going to rant about the dishonesty or whatever with that whole thing--at this point, it's just another way to say hello. But it does illuminate an interesting aspect of our culture.

Everyone has to be "good" or "okay" all the time.

I'm sure you've heard or said something like, "They just look like they have it all together." That's what we do as Americans (and especially as Christian Americans): we gotta keep it together.

But who the heck has it all together? Who is okay all the time? Stuff happens, things get hard--tests are failed, relationships crumble, loved ones die--life just happens with or without our say-so. And even sometimes, for inexplicable reasons, we just don't feel okay.

Life can be going smoothly. Lots of friends, decent grades, time to sleep, roof over your head, food to eat, but you hurt. That's kind of where I'm at tonight as I blog at 1:30 in the morning with a Biology test in seven hours (for which I should be desperately studying). I just don't really feel awesome about myself right now. I'm not okay.

But that's okay.

When things happen (or even if they don't), you have to work through it. Cry, scream, hug someone, get angry, whatever you need to do. It's okay to express what you're feeling.

Ecclesiastes says there's a time for everything under the heavens. Jesus sweat drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane. You can't tell me Jesus was okay--I've been in some rough spots, but I've never sweat blood. Jesus wasn't feeling too great in that moment.

Now, don't get me wrong. We are not to be ruled by our emotions. But. We do have emotions. God didn't give us feelings to force us to subdue them. We aren't Vulcans, people.

Talk to God about what you're feeling. I don't mean recite the Lord's Prayer (though that's never a bad idea) or start speaking Elizabethan English...verily forsooth.

No, I mean really talk to Him. God is a God of all the ages. There is literally nothing that makes English from 1611 better than modern English. God wasn't like, "Pray without ceasing--but none of this 2000 AD stuff. That's not good enough." That's what is incredible about our God! He transgresses all barriers--time, language, people groups, etc.

Sorry. I digress. That's a topic for another time.

If you want some inspiration, just read some of David's Psalms. That guy was seriously not okay sometimes--and he let God know it. You aren't fooling God with your fancy, masked speech. He already knows what you're feeling so you might as well scream it out at the top of your lungs. Trust me, you will feel about a billion times better about everything if you just let it out. 

Anyway. All this to say, I'm not feeling very okay, but that's okay. God's listening. I can still have joy in Him even when I'm upset (the beautiful difference between joy and happiness). 

Most importantly, He loves me whether or not I'm okay--and that's pretty great.