**Epic

As I watched the movie "Epic" this afternoon, I couldn't help but think how overdone this story line is. The "It's just a typical day, I'm a normal person, and ALL OF THE SUDDEN! I'm swept off into a bigger story, this journey that's apparently been going on outside of my little world for millennia, and it's up to ME to save the day/world/race of beings." It's been told in  hundreds of stories told in books, movies, and around campfires that detail a tail of destiny, misfortune, heroes and bad guys. It's like every single human being since the beginning of time has been fascinated with the idea of being caught up in a tale, a story, a [] that's bigger than our own. We all long to be the hero who starts off on a typical day and ends up saving the world. We all want to be part of something bigger. John Eldredge captures this thought in his books 'Epic', 'Sacred Romance', 'Waking the 'Dead' and 'Desire.' All books you shouldn't bother looking into if you're content with living a safe, boring, run-of-the-mill life. But, if you're like me, and can't shake the feeling you're "Meant For More" you'll find motivation and inspiration in these books, like I did.

I'm gonna do my best not to take all of his ideas…I give him full credit, and they do a very very good job of explaining it. All I want to do is give you a bite to think about from what those books triggered in me.

What if, what if, what if we are caught up in an Epic tale? A tale in which we do play an extraordinarily significant role? Don't we want our lives to matter? Don't we long for a world we can change, save, make better?

I've always been bad at storytelling. Partially because I write better than I talk…and I don't 'show' or 'tell' I just say. I write too straightforwardly to regale in story format. Another part is because I don't have many good stories to tell, and when I do, my brain doesn't remember details well enough to communicate them well, or clearly.

But I love stories--I long for my life to be filled with fun, inspiring, amazing tales. I long for my life to have a bigger plot line--a plot bigger than the day in day out grind--the go to work, come home, eat, clean, sleep, check Facebook and email and bank account type of days. I want more. I even have a tattoo that says "Meant For More"because it means that much to me.

I think all of us, to some degree, long to play a significant role in the course of our great grandchildren's history. We want our lives and how we live, and what we do to matter. We want to be saved and save…something. someone. We want to be something, be Someone that matters.

Isn't that why we were created anyway? Not just as play things for Yahweh's entertainment, but made with some specific purpose in mind; right?

Jeremiah 29:11 our Creator speaks saying " I know the plans I have for you…plans to PROSPER you and NOT TO HARM YOU. Plans to GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE"

"Not to harm you."? Was that really necessary for Him to add?
"Yes." God responds clearly, almost audibly, to what I thought was a rhetorical question.

"Yes" because we so often, when things go wrong, jump to blame someone, anyone. And when God who in those moments we feel "claims to be in control" lets things go badly we are quick to point fingers. And when we surrender "control" to God, telling Him He can run our lives without getting in the way and bad things happen--when we or those we love are harmed--God becomes the accused.