The other day while getting ready in the morning, Eden asked me to recount the story of Joash and then Snow White. While reading The Hide-and-Seek-Prince* this week, I've emphasized the call of God upon Joash and the responsibility which he received at 7 years of age. Note: In our culture, there is an ironic encouraging of children to their full potential while discouraging their ability to make decisions, strike out on their own, get it done, and take leadership. Eden really enjoys the drama of the story.
After hearing my brief recounting of Snow White, Eden pointed out God took care of Snow White. Amen! Then she asked, Did Snow White know God? What would you say? I responded that it was my prayer that someone such as us went to their castle to share God, His Life, and His Story, just as I go to campus. Furthermore, it's our responsibility to share God, His Life, and His Story each and every day with all whom we meet. A conversation to be picked up, a life to be lived, and a Snow White Part II to be imagined/written by Eden in the coming months ... in the mean time how do you discuss God in relationship to the traditional tales of our culture?
PS. Brian Godawa’s Word Pictures: Knowing God Through Story & Imagination (InterVarsity Press, 2009) has some great insights on storytelling. Material from this book coming, to wet your appetite visit my ESN blog post Recognizing the Messiah.
*By Mary Manz Simon. Illustrated by Dennis Jones. Concordia Publishing House, 1994. Based upon II Kings 11:1-12:16.