Long ago, in a small town not so very far away, our very young grandson was spending the day with us. Star Wars Episode 1 was rather recent and there he was parked three feet from the TV screen. Little kids loved the movie because the hero, young Anakin Skywalker, was played by 10-year-old Jake Lloyd.
Well, there is a scene when young Skywalker wants to fly into battle to help his friends and has climbed into the cockpit of a small, yellow, spaceship. As it begins to take off, grandson Christopher emphatically points at the TV, turns his head around to look at us and exclaims, “I’m in there!”
Now, quite frequently, whenever we see a lovely scene, place or circumstance in which we would like to be, we say, “I’m in there.”
Children’s book author Lisa Graff shares an article entitled “Finding Yourself In the Story”: “As readers, we develop meaningful bonds with our favorite protagonists. We read as the main character—we walk around in his shoes, see the world from her eyes. We cheer when our hero achieves a great victory, and swoon when the heroine finds her true love and weep when our now dear friends receive some injustice.”
In other words, if it’s a really good story, we find ourselves drawn into it. Especially if we sense ourselves in the character’s situation or the character’s personality, the character’s challenge or sharing the character’s goal. In a really good story, we feel, “I’m in there.”
In so many Bible stories, we’re in there. Sometimes we ourselves are in the Garden of Eden, where everything is perfect, nature is beautiful, all of our needs are met and the animals have names. At darker times we are in the fiery furnace that it is heated seven times hotter than it ought to be. When the small boat is thrown high on a stormtossed sea, we can often feel, “I’m in there.” Who has not been “in there” at the grave of Lazarus—despondent, weeping and a loved one gone.
There are other Bible stories where I believe God really wants us to feel, “I’m in there.” When Jesus has pity on someone selfish and greedy, but who nonetheless wants to see Him, and says, “Zacchaeus, come down from that tree; let’s do lunch,” we’re in there. Sometimes we’re in there in the kitchen with Martha, putting ice in the tea glasses, worried about so many things, while everyone else is relaxing in the living room enjoying Jesus. When Christ passes by blind Bartimaeus, who calls out, “Son of David, have mercy!” and leaves singing, “I once was blind but now I see,” we’re in there. When, forgiven by the Lord, Jesus unexpectedly encourages the stumbler, “Go and sin no more,” we’re in there.
Finally, there are those times when the Gospels want us “in there” when no one else is around. We’re in there when it’s only Satan and Jesus in the wilderness. We’re in there when Mary is alone and the angel appears and says, “Blessed are you among women!” We’re in there when a young man in a foreign country thinks of all he has thrown away and only wants to go home—and he is welcomed? And when only Peter, James and John see Christ transfigured to his divine, radiant glory, we, too, are there on the mountain.
Long ago, in a Galilee far, far away, a loving, saving, miracle working hero was born; a life was lived that has come to be known as the greatest story every told. And we’re in there.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.