Once Upon a Time

I was recently introduced to the hit TV show, Once Upon a Time. In this show, fairy tale characters are under a curse which has forced them out of their “perfect world” into another world, where they are no longer themselves. Life in fairy tale is in vivid color, but in Storybrooke (real world) it is more gray. I was thinking about the show and comparing it to real life on earth. God created us to live in a perfect world, but we have all been cursed by sin. Sin has thrust us into another world, one marred by its destructive power. Even though we live in this world, the Bible compares us to aliens just passing through (foreigners, I’m not talking UFO stuff here). In the show, only one person can save the people of Storybrooke. The same is true for us. Only one person, Jesus Christ can save us from the curse and give us abundant life.

My great-uncle passed away last night, reminding me that this world is not our home. Why is it then that we spend so much time and energy on things that will pass away? Black Friday — need I say more? Since when did we become more focused on Black Friday sales and what we can get than on being thankful for what we have. After last year’s near death excursion (ok, so maybe not near death, but it was scary), I decided to forego the annual event this year. This holiday season, I want to focus on what is really important — on things that will last for eternity. I don’t want to take the people in my life for granted. I want to be more focused on relationships than on material things this year. I hope to focus on all the blessings in my life and on the Giver of Life. I want to live my life in vivid color, and not settle for the dull shades of gray offered by this world.