Most old literature we still read or even fairy tales that Disney makes into movies still command an audience because they have a resonance that transcends the surface of the story. In a literature class, this might be referred to as a theme a sub text or perhaps a sub plot. Interestingly, the same is true of histories and biographies (a sub type of history). This latter bit makes sense because as we live out our lives we in effect author our own autobiography.
The Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs story, while pure fiction has a great deal of relevant (i.e. to real life) subtext. It's one of the things, along with the happy ending, that has caused it to remain popular. The Mirror On The Wall is one of the more fascinating images in the story. You will recall that the evil witch consults the mirror for guidance on the subject of the witch's beauty relative to everyone else.
When the witch looks in the mirror, she sees herself as "the fairest in the land." This report is one part objective description, one part vanity. It contains both the report of the mirror as well as the reflection of the witch. All this is working swimmingly well for the witch. Her vanity aligns nicely with objective reality. Until, as is wont to happen in both real life and fairy tales, objective reality intrudes on the status quo. In this case, the happy relationship the witch has with her face.
The witch subsequently sets out on what will ultimately become a tragic and evil quest to force reality into the image she has of reality. I don't think I'll give much away to say that this path leads to death.
By way of both challenge and contrast, here's verse from Hebrews (11:1 specifically). I think the KJV offers by far the best rendering of this verse, both technically and esthetically, so here it is: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Contrasting this with the mirror and all we've found it to be, there's no appeal here to self or vanity. Everything is "out there," that is, objective. The rest of Hebrews 11 catalogs a number of bible biographies of people who looked only outside themselves, never in the mirror, and found God. These are references to stories co-authored by God and man, with first forms written in flesh and blood.
And here's the deal, faith is not about wishing no matter how good or bad the wish. Faith is not about our projections and reflections of vanity or of having the world the way we want it. Faith is allowing ourselves to be led and being deliberate and consistent about following the leading. In this way, "substance" and "evidence" are realized and even made manifest in the flesh and blood stories of our lives. And in turn, it is this story that over time defines the respective cores of our souls.
Sometimes the result of faith is fun and easy to accept. Sometimes it involves great sacrifice and suffering. The fact of these highs and lows is incidental to the target. And the target can't be found in the mirror. The target is "out there." The target is, has been and always will be, life, relationship and love with Christ.
Thank you so much Jeff. Your words were simple but not easy. Usually a sign that I need to linger here and ponder.
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