What is the greatest story ever told? That’s one of those eternal questions that has led to countless treatises and opinions much better than anything I can dream of. But I do have an opinion on it, so you must suffer through another.
Let me start with: Jelly Roll. Jamie Lannister. Martha Stewart. Darth Vader. Elsa. Simba. Kim Kardashian. Justin Bieber. Not generally a crew that you would group together. But their stories have a tie that binds- we all witnessed their arc of redemption. Be it from a sex tape scandal, fleeing from responsibility, or the arrogance of power, each one of them experienced scorn, despair and judgement- only to rise to new heights. Each of them is beloved not despite their flaws, but because their flaws make their experiences relatable and human.
This public attraction to redemption isn’t constrained to modern day characters and celebrities. One of my favorite books, The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell, details his research on mythology. He makes a startling conclusion- that the great foundational stories across ages and cultures tend to have a similar structure. He called this common structure the monomyth, the hero’s journey, and each story shared most, if not all, the following elements:
Introduction of Hero
Call to Adventure
Meeting a Mentor
Crossing the Threshold to Adventure
Challenges
Death and Resurrection
Transformation
Atonement
Return
Just like the four chords that link most pop hits, this story structure fits most epic tales that you can think of- Harry Potter, Star Wars, Ulysses, Hamlet, King Arthur, The Odyssey, the Gospels, Osiris. The list goes on and on. A natural assumption is that these stories are so popular because they are so familiar. Just like Marvel keeps pumping out Avengers movies, the great writers through the centuries used the monomyth structure to write hit after hit. The monomyth is so popular is because it has been so popular, and the momentum just rolls on.
However, I find one great flaw in this argument. For momentum is reliant on a starting point. A spark. A push. And to those of you who say Gilgamesh, I counter that the Buddha and many others are independent. There is something deeper than these ancient myths. And I believe that deeper truth is the greatest story of all. The Epic of Humankind.
I cannot remember the source, but someone once asserted that our lives are the Iliads and Odysseys of heaven. This is a beautiful metaphor, and I’d take it a step further and say the Epic of Humankind is more like Canterbury Tales, Arabian Nights or Hyperion. In these great novels, each of the cast of characters share their own story, revealing a bit of truth in the greater narrative. In the same way, our lives are independent stories woven into a much larger tale. We are integral characters not only in our own adventure but also in the greatest story ever told.
So, what does it mean to be a main character in such an epic tale? I’m reminded of the Chinese curse- “May you live in interesting times.” Frankly, it tells me that shit is coming my way. Show me a book where the hero was born, everything went fabulously, and they lived happily ever after, and I will show you a book with zero sales. We will have to suffer, sin, and fall just like Harry Potter, Danerys Targaryen, and Hester Prynne. Why? Because that is the fate for all heroes.
Pulling on this thread further, isn’t it true that the heroes that we come to love and adore most are those who went through the most difficult times? In this vein, Jesus’ message at the heart of the Parable of the Prodigal Son comes to life.1 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”2 I always struggled with this concept, but aren’t some of the greatest cheers in literature for those who were once evil who turned good? Be it Darth Vader casting Palpatine into the pit, Snape sacrificing himself for Harry, or Jean Valjean saving Cosette. The greatest heroes are those who go on the most difficult journeys.
In that same way, I think the legions of heaven are closely watching our stories. Especially the adventures of those among us who have fallen the furthest or hurt the most. Together, our tales illustrate the pages of the Epic of Humankind- a story filled with good and evil, triumph and tragedy, and ultimately, redemption. And while not all tales have a happy ending, I believe the gates of heaven shake when those the world has beaten down the most find the courage to rise again- bringing the heavenly hosts to their feet, popcorn flying.
Found in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 15, the parable of the proigal son tells the story of two brothers. One of them demands from his father his inheritance early and then proceeds to squander the inheritance. When he returns in disgrace, the father welcomes him with open arms, throwing a party to celebrate his return. This left the other brother resentful, as he thought his brother got off easy for what he did.
Luke 15:7
Right on point - very insightful