In the previous post, we touched on how stories improve our experience and understanding of reality. Now let’s dig a little deeper into what fantasy stories in particular can offer us.
Everyday dragons
Even though they may seem farther removed from our daily lives, fantasy stories—the closest modern equivalent to fairy tales—have a lot to teach us. Check out this pearl of wisdom:
“Fairy tales are more than true – not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten.”
~ G. K. Chesterton as quoted by Neil Gaiman
Art by Adare Elyse using book photo by Luke Palmer from Unsplash
Sure, that sounds inspiring, but what is the point of beating something that doesn’t exist? While they may not have scales or bat wings, we all have dragons in our lives. We all have an enemy who’s trying to burn down our happiness and devour the good things in our lives. And we all need to fight back.
More than any other genre, fantasy clearly paints the conflict between good and evil. Time and again, the hero must face down the hordes of darkness or massive monsters in order to save himself and his people.
The problem is, we don’t always see the enemy with our physical eyes. We might not even think there is an enemy. But how can we resist an enemy that we won’t acknowledge exists? Just because we don’t see the dragon in front of us in our lives doesn’t mean we’re exempt from this fight.
Strategies to resist the enemy
Maybe your dragon is an addiction or a series of seemingly never-ending challenges. Or maybe it’s the voice inside your head telling you that don’t measure up or you’re not worthwhile. Whether it’s coming at you from internal thoughts or external circumstances, it’s an attack on you and your destiny. And you can resist!
The enemy relies on darkness—on obscuring the truth. The first step to fighting the enemy is to stand on the truth and refuse to accept his accusations. One key truth that we’ll explore later in this series is that you are a valuable individual uniquely created by God for a meaningful purpose. Knowing who you are and why is a critical foundation for standing firm through the battles in your life.
For example, if the enemy tells you you’re worthless, reject that lie and remind yourself that God—not your enemy, your friends, or even yourself—is the foundation of your value, and He thinks you are priceless.
Another strategy to resist the enemy comes from an ancient sage named Paul, who said:
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Here’s another example: when others are unkind to you, you can win the battle more effectively if you don’t fight back with equal harshness; instead, treat them with kindness. Doing this can end the cycle of offense and revenge. This strategy works because people are not our ultimate enemies. When we focus our attacks on them, we’re making our real enemy happy. Fighting evil with evil creates more…you guessed it…evil. Good is what defeats evil. Remember, the bad dragon isn’t killed by another dragon, but by a noble knight of superior courage and character.
We’ve only scratched the surface of this conflict—and we will delve into it more later—but for now, let’s take a moment to reflect.
What dragons are you facing in your life? How can you overcome evil with good in that situation? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments—and tune in next time to find out how to answer the call to adventure!
Read more:
10 Ways Reading Fantasy Improves Reality
Previous Post: How Stories Help Us See Life Clearly
Next Post: How to Be More Adventurous with Confidence
Please review the Posting Policy before commenting.