Fairy tales.
Everyone loves them. There is always that struggle between good & evil. There is always an obstacle to overcome. There is always a happy ending. The “happily ever after” ending.
Sophia LOVES Rapunzel. Amazing to me how she has grabbed hold of the storyline. She has the Rapunzel movie, Rapunzel books, Rapunzel t-shirts, Rapunzel cups. Each item is cherished because of the story that they represent.
This morning in reading her the story, one line struck me. Please allow me to set the stage for the line. Rapunzel is a kidnapped princess who is held in the high tower for years by Mother Goethel. Through a chance encounter with Flynn Rider, she gets out of the high tower & escapes to find her true identity. That is the condensed version. The line that hit me? Here it is –
“If she had never left the tower, Rapunzel wouldn’t have seen the sparkling lights, fallen in love, or discovered who she really was – a princess with two loving parents.” (from Disney, Tangled, Rapunzel – the book).
As soon as I read that this morning, it hit me – Rapunzel had to leave the high tower to find freedom & her true identity. Did you get that?
In Scripture, high places always represented places of idolatry. The kings that tore down the high places & served God saw peace & success during their reigns. But the ones that left the high places intact, ended up doing things that were unimaginable, despicable things. A good way to define “high places” might be to say that they are the people, the things, or circumstances that overgrow our thoughts of God, push Him out of our thoughts.
I realized this morning that in walking away from any high place, much the same way Rapunzel did, I will find freedom & my true identity. When I do not allow idols to form in my life, to take up residency in my heart & mind, I will find myself walking in God’s ways & experiencing His joy & peace. It is then that I will discover who I was always meant to be.
As I have thought about this today, two thoughts have come to me:
1) God’s Word will bring freedom to my life.
“I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” (Psalm 119:45NIV).
2) Christ has set me free.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, & do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1 NIV).
Yes, Christ has set us free. May we each be diligent to stand firm & protect that which we have been given. We must stand firm so as to not become yoked AGAIN into bondage.
No wonder we love fairy tales! We can always learn from one if we lean in a little closer & listen with the ears of our hearts. May we take His hand & climb out of our high towers today.May we walk into freedom & all that He has for us!!!
                            
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