GOD - The Ultimate Author and His Story

But that’s not the way of it with the tales that really mattered, or the ones that stay in the mind. Folk seem to have just landed in them, usually - their paths were laid that way, as you put it. But I expect they had lots of chances, like us, of turning back, only they didn’t. And if they had, we shouldn’t know, because they’d have been forgotten. We hear about those as just went on - and not all to a good end, mind you; at least not to what folk inside a story and not outside it call a good end
Sam Gamgee, The Return of the King

This topic runs deep through Tolkien's works: the idea that there is a story written for each and every one of us, and that "all we have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given to us."

From time to time my mind reflects back to something I read by Tolkien. "On Fairy Stories" was the name of it. It's an essay he wrote that discusses the meaning and history of fairy tales and other stories. The main point of the essay, however, was that when creating a world, we are only reflecting the light of the Creator who creared ours. As we are made in God's image, thus the desire to create is in us as well. As Tolkien said: "Fantasy remains a human right, we make in our measure and in our derivative mode, because we are made, and not only made, but made in the image and likeness of a Maker."

Thus, Tolkien is saying that the imagination and desire to create is the proof of a God who had these same desires.

Another interesting topic Tolkien brings into the discussion is that of his so-called "eucatastrophe". The eucatstrophe refers to the sudden turn of events at the end of a story which turn out for the good. Tolkien states that this is an important part in any fairy story, and is also proof of God being the ultimate author. Just as an author would end his story with a fantastic, unexpected good ending to save the hero, so God wrote this into HIS story. Tolkien says "The Gospels contain a fairy-story, or a story of a larger kind which embraces all the essence of fairy-stories. ...and among its marvels is the greatest and most complete conceivable eucatastrophe. The Birth of Christ is the eucatastrophe of Man's history. The Resurrection is the eucatastrophe of the story of the Incarnation."

Tolkien's mention of this was a springboard for my thought. The ideas he expressed in his small work are much deeper than just a surface reading suggests. My mind started racing with this, and it goes pretty deep.

God has a story written. This story contains all of our favorite parts of stories: the romance, the quest, the charming prince. He has written a fairy tale into each of our lives. These tales only come alive to their colorful potential when we surrender OUR story to the Author. God has a story written, but He will not get in our way if we choose to edit it. The consequences are dire, however, for God's story is more fantastic and filled with wonder, adventure, and excitement than any story any of us could pen. God plainly says this in Jeremiah 29:11, when He says "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." You see, God has an "expected end"; He has written the perfect story for each of us, we just have to give Him an author's creative license. We have to let Him carry out His story.

I challenge each and every one of us to every day place the pages of our live under the pen of the Ultimate Author, God, who knows the best story for every character He has brought into existence. He's given us a part in His play, the vast drama that is His vision; the vision of Eru that even the wise could not understand. He has great plans for all of us, so let's just follow the plot. Let's fulfill the Author's vision.