While I am sure
there is varying degrees of criticism from theologians, I remind you, it is a
work of fiction. Wikipedia noted that the author knows of no record of a Red
Tent being used by the Israelites, but that other pre-cultural groups did use
one for the designated purpose imagined by the author.
To me the beauty
and strength of the book, and therefore its success, was in showing the
fellowship of women at its best, and the true devoted heart of a mother.
Between the
first part and the second, I reread the account in Genesis 32 on up to Joseph’s
reign in Egypt as Visor. Then I tuned-in the next evening for the second part. I
found it extremely moving.
The following
morning I continued my devotional reading of Waking the Dead by John Eldredge and
was struck fresh with the truth
therein after viewing such a strong drama the two nights before.
John believes
Jesus told parables to illustrate eternal truths because unlike mere facts,
stories penetrate our hearts and get past our intellectual defenses. And the
best stories of all? The ones that bring us eternal truths. John quotes Rolland
Hein as he defines myth; “…stories that which confront us with something
transcendent and eternal…a means by which the eternal expresses itself in time”.
Like in The Red Tent. Though definitely fiction;
the greed, lust and selfish desires of the human condition were portrayed
truthfully. Ugly as it was. And we just like the Israelites, can forget
ourselves and live in our flesh if we get complacent and forget who we belong
to.
But John
Eldridge points out the most urgent quality to every myth or big story is the
struggle, quest or battle usually underway.
John points this all out so beautifully on page 34 “The story of your life is the story of a long and brutal assault on your heart by the one who knows what you could be and fears it, …”like Narnia in winter and the sleeping kingdom in Sleeping Beauty, “the world lies under the power of the evil one” 1 John 5:19” page
Think; Lord of
the Rings, The Matrix, and Star Wars.
Ephesians
5:14-16 “Wake up oh sleeper…be very careful, then, how you live…because the
days are evil”.
Eldredge says, Things are not
as they seem, we are a people at war, and…
we have a role to play.
Doesn’t your
heart whisper to you while watching the wee Hobbit that you might have a greater
role to play in the larger scheme of things?
On Page 34
Waking the Dead, John tells us, “When Sam
Gamgee wonders out loud, “I wonder what
sort of tale we’ve fallen into?” his question assumes there is a larger story
going on.”
John opens his
book with one of my favorite quotes by Saint Irenaes, The glory of God is man fully
alive.
That is what my
heart longs for. And it is what John Eldredge said is needed for the church
today. To awaken to the fact things are not as they seem, we are a people at
war, and we have a role to play.
For those of
you who love story, and long to be fully engaged in the work God has for you, I
highly recommend this book.
Have you ever allowed someone to rob you of your purpose in life like Dinah had in The Red Tent ? Or felt the whisper of a vision that you have a great role yet to play in life?