John Eldredge’s books have become wildly popular among Christians. The Sacred Romance and Wild at Heart have sold millions of copies and have firmly established Eldredge as one of the most-read Christian authors. Wild at Heart has been studied in men’s groups across the world, giving Eldredge a wide reach and his teachings great acceptance. In his book about the greatest story ever told – Epic he changes his emphasis and focuses on the great story – our common story.
Epic tells us that life is a story which unfolds like a grand drama. It seems that humans have an obsession with stories. From the time we are tiny children we love to hear stories about heroes and villains, good guys and bad. The reason we love story so much, Eldredge writes, is that there is something in the human heart that tells us there is an epic story going around us, where God is the central character, but where we also play an important role. We love stories about the conquering hero who arrives at the last possible moment to save his lover, because that is exactly what Jesus has done for us. Which story we choose to focus on is a bit like looking at a landscape – do we focus on the detail of the ground or do we lift our eyes to the sky to watch the drama unfold.
The book, then, revolves around stories. The author supports his claims with example after example from popular movies. A few of the movies he references are Apollo 13, Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, Saving Private Ryan, Pinocchio, Finding Nemo, Titanic, Braveheart, Gladiator (no surprise if you have read Wild at Heart) and Star Wars. He relies heavily on quotes from other writers such as G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, Phillip Yancey, Gerald May, Soren Kierkegaard, George MacDonald and William Shakespeare. The book also contains plenty of Bible verses.
The true story of every person in this world is not the story you see, the external story. The true story of each person is the journey of his or her heart. – John Eldredge
Eldredge reminds us that there are two stories we are always living – the small story and the epic story. Both are lived at the same time, in the same place, however they have wildly different endings. Our task is to remember that the great and epic story is the one God invites us to. He invites us to belive that every moment, every action, every thought and word matters, and that everything is spiritual – because it is all about the epic story that God is telling.
This week, may you be reminded about your role and character in this story, you may not know the detail yet, but God does. It is no small part, the question is always – do you have eyes to see, and ears to hear? May God help you this week to choose which story you will live in, and maybe, just maybe – as others see you living your epic story, they will be inspired to do the same.
Epic
In the outpost of my mind
Confusion lingers still
It flys around the crowded space
Against and by my will
The small story of this life
Attempts to thwart my soul
It beckons as it whispers
Only we can make you whole
The greater story opens up
It throws light across the page
The words speak life and lives
From the cradle to the grave
The stories battle on
They win and lose the fight
The stories of the light and dark
But day always thwarts the night
Every word and every line
Every plot and theme
The villain and the hero
All take there turn it seems
The greater story is your life
Your props, your lines, your part
It is how God transforms you now
As your life becomes His art
Loving that final stanza!