Epic Life
What do killing lions, amnesia, and reuniting mystical relics to goddesses have in common? If you know the stories of Hercules, Jason Bourne, and Moana, you know that these all represent the struggles found in epic stories where the hero of the story is faced with an obstacle which he or she must overcome for the story to end in “happily ever after” (fun fact: in Spanish, the literal translation of “happily ever after” is “they lived happily and ate partridges”. You’re welcome).
There is a reason every great storyline follows the same predictable outline yet we never grow tired of the template. Humans were made to crave stories. Every desire in our heart longs for story, whether that is from the work we do, the movies we watch, or the avenues in which we serve. We crave being a part of a story so much that we continually seek new books, songs, companies, or movies to satisfy the insatiable desire within us to live out our own story. If you don’t believe me, imagine yourself waiting in eager anticipation in the plush, velvety seat at your favorite movie theatre, a tub of greasy popcorn in your hands and your eyes glued to the screen. As the movie starts, you are reintroduced to Jason Bourne (you’ve already seen the 23 previous Bourne films). Much to your bewilderment (or lack thereof), you find that Bourne’s life has taken a dramatic turn for the better since the previous movies. He has made peace with the government that had previously wanted to eliminate him, reunited with and married his high school sweetheart, bought a home in the Swiss Alps, and now has a beautiful, harmonious family with four kids, two dogs, and a fuzzy llama named Dolly. He earns a solid living working for a successful investment company (remotely, of course), helps his kids with their homework in the evening, and even volunteers with his local fire department (though he is never actually called because his safe and responsible community has never experienced an emergency such as a house fire). And that’s it. The movie ends. Sound exciting? Not even my grandma would find that story the least bit engaging! The question then becomes why is it that this is the story we often seek for ourselves?
Deeper Story
At the time of me writing this blog, our world is being faced with a global health crisis that we have not experienced in perhaps a century. Thousands, perhaps millions, of people have lost their jobs and have been forced to lock themselves inside of their homes in order to keep from contracting or spreading the contagion. Many have already died from this invisible enemy and many more will likely lose their lives to it. It is undeniable that we do indeed have reason to fear. To many it may feel as if the very fabric of our society is on the brink of disintegrating which leaves many of us feeling trapped with no other option than to react in fear and panic (there is no clearer evidence of this panic than the countless empty rows where toilet paper once dwelt). Is this, then, the best we have, a scattered society threatened by an invisible enemy which has managed to sow fear and despair into our very souls? Is there not a deeper, more meaningful, story which we long to be a part of?
The Remedy
The human spirit is an indomitable one, but it is only capable of maintaining such a characteristic when it is inspired by the power contained within story. As Hercules, Jason Bourne, and Moana show us, nothing will light the fire within us like the timeless beauty of stories that are filled with challenge and heartache. These stories represent not just a desire of ours to observe but also to participate in these tales of perilous journeys and courageous exploits. Whether we are reading classics such as The Epic of Gilgamesh or The Iliad, or the more modern favorites such as Finding Nemo or The Lord of the Rings, the purpose of story is to stir within us a resilience to our own challenges and fears. It is the only remedy to the affliction of purposelessness.
“Nothing will light the fire within us like the timeless beauty of stories that are filled with challenge and heartache”
The Epic
The Greeks can take credit for giving name (and perhaps developing) several formulaic versions of story including the epic. An epic derives its name from the ancient Greek adjective “epikos” meaning “a poetic story”. It is a long narrative poem which typically involves the bold acts of a person with inspiring courage and bravery. The hero often represents the values of a culture, race, religion, or tribe and their success or failure directly impacts the success or failure of those he or she represents. The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of our earliest and most noteworthy recorded examples of an epic. The story tells of a cruel and selfish king who was 2/3 god and 1/3 man (don’t ask). When his people cry out to the gods for rescue from his tyrannical acts, they respond by creating a primitive but powerful man named Enkidu to challenge the selfish king in order to humble him and change his ways. After the two face each other, they surprisingly become best friends. The trials and challenges that the demi-god duo face afterwards become the driving forces behind the transformation of Gilgamesh into a good and compassionate king. However, this outcome would never have come about if the king had not been forced to walk through great trial and tragedy first.
Epic or Monologue
As we face our own pain and fear, we must learn the lessons that the epic has for us if we are to truly live the “epic” life we all crave. First, we must decide whether we will live our lives as an epic or a monologue. One begins with adversity and ends in triumph. The other begins at a certain point…and then hangs out there. A hero never starts out with “happily ever after”. Such a story (like the terrible Bourne prequel I shared) inspires nothing within us except the hope of a refund. Fire and fury are born not from the freedom of stagnation but from the flames of suffering. Whether your suffering is not knowing how you’re going to put food in the mouths of your children, feeling defeated from a crippling battle with mental illness, or simply feeling lost in your search for purpose, we each have our own hero’s journey before us. It may seem daunting, perhaps impossible. But you must ask yourself, and answer honestly, whether what you long for the most is truly the purposeless plateau or the painful peak. Just know that your answer will determine your response when life ignores your answer and throws suffering your way whether you chose to embrace it or not.
“Fire and fury are born not from the freedom of stagnation but from the flames of suffering.”
Story Gaps
Second, we must decide whether we will face or ignore the problems that stand between us and what we long for. If you choose to live the monologue life, you will likely still face the same gaps between you and your desires, yet you will face them defenseless. In story terminology, this distance between the character and what he or she wants is called a story gap. Jason Bourne has amnesia….but meets Marie! Then they are forced to flee from the bad guys…. until he gets his feet underneath him and takes the fight to them! Story gaps are continually opened and closed throughout the entire story to maintain interest. Without them, it would simply be a plateau. Expert story teller Donald Miller explains that “as soon as the conflict in a story is resolved, audiences stop paying attention.” If we want our lives to be epics and not monologues, we must see each of our struggles as a story gap within the epic of our life. Embrace these gaps and learn to trust, in faith, that what lies on the other side of the gap is not just desirable but also achievable.
“As soon as the conflict in a story is resolved, audiences stop paying attention.”
The Villian
Finally, we must decide how to paint our pain. It is one thing to accept that that you have recently experienced a setback in your health. It is another thing completely to paint that setback as a villain in your life which must be thwarted at all costs. While we never have complete control over all of the forces in our lives that seek to see us defeated, we always have a wide enough sphere of influence to overpower and defeat the true enemy. This means that that there will be setbacks in life that we simply cannot avoid. Tragedies such as cancer, bankruptcy, or divorce are often simply outside of our control. Yet when we open our eyes to see the even more terrifying enemy at hand such as apathy, golden handcuffs, or lack of relational intimacy, we discover that there is no story gap we cannot close. To do this requires revealing the identity of the true enemy in your life’s epic and then treating it as such. Do whatever it takes to slay the real dragon or knock down the actual giant within your story!
“While we never have complete control over all of the forces in our lives that seek to see us defeated, we always have a wide enough sphere of influence to overpower and defeat the true enemy.”
Fire and Fury
Pain in life is unavoidable. No matter how much we may try to flee from it, it will always find us. Thankfully, we can discover the power within the story narrative to embrace the pain and suffering life throws our way and transform it into the fabric which weaves together the tapestry of our epic lives. By choosing to live out our lives as an epic and not a monologue, interpreting the problems we face as the story gaps which make our lives more meaningful, and painting our pain as an enemy which must be defeated at all costs, we can discover the incredible and epic adventure that is our lives. It has been said that pain is a gift only when it is not wasted. Grab hold of your pain, seizing it strongly by the horns, and let it fill you with the fire and fury of a hero in the heat of the battle.