In general, I think the word “story” is a bit overused in Christian lexicon these days, but in his book Searching for Enough, Tyler Staton invokes “story” in a way that I hope makes you feel important and recognized, because often, in our illness, we feel so useless (excessive self-criticism is a symptom of many disorders).
Staton uses the word “because” in his exposition on story, and often the word “because” can throw us because there’s so much “because” that’s befuddling, but if we understand Christianity properly, “because” can inject us with some life-giving energy, and give us the sense again that who we are matters to God.
Not just for this earth, but for all of eternity.
Staton:
“The English novelist E.M. Forster draws a distinction between a story and a plot with the single word because. A story is merely events arranged chronologically — ‘the king died and then the queen died’.
A plot occurs when the focus zeroes in on the causality, the because of those events — ‘the king died and then the queen died of grief’.”
Staton then applies Forster’s remarkably simple but magical word “because” for great writing to your Christian life, and the Because of you revolves around the Because of Christ.
“The question Jesus’ life leaves us with is this: Is it merely a story, or is it a plot?
Is his life only a series of events, or is it something more coherent, the first and greatest because?
To answer this question, we are forced to engage a similar, but much more personal question: Is my life merely a story, or is it a plot? Am I the sum total of chronological events, or is there a coherent plot?”
The greatest because? I love that. Christ’s life was the greatest because there ever was.
And if we really believe that Jesus came to die for us, because he wanted to defeat death, sin, and raise us to share in his inheritance, then we can go forward in life knowing that we matter to his plan because he created us for a reason.
And just as Christ’s entire life, from virgin birth to resurrection, was linked by a series of redemptive because’s, so, indeed, your life and my life is linked by a series of redemptive because’s, as well.
We may be facing unbelievably difficult circumstances, disorders, and diseases, but Jesus did as well — because that was the cup he had to drink from on earth to drink the one when he was reunited with his Father.
When we look at how perfectly transparent and redemptive the because’s were in Christ’s life, we can know it’s the same for us, even if we can’t see it.
And that’s because we don’t live life in perfect retrospection. Instead, we get caught in relentless introspection, and it can drag us down and take our eyes off the fact that we know how it all ends.
The drama of life will never stop, just as the drama in a story or movie continues, but there will be a discharge in that war. An It’s A Wonderful Life Ending moment for you and me, and methinks Jesus can cook up something better than Frank Capra, no?
So think about your because in the light of your final redemption. That’s super hard to do. Our disease makes it even harder.
But just think of how clear each because was in Christ’s life, and even though he was a man of sorrows, he did end up rising up from the grave.
You and I will rise up from our physical graves too (and the graves we often mentally feel stuck in).
Because Christ did, you and I will.
In the meantime, if you’re struggling with depression, anxiety, or any other mood disorder (all medical conditions)….
For readers in the United States…
Find a psychiatrist here.
Find a therapist here.
For readers, internationally, seek help from a local resource.
For salvation, Christ and Christ alone.
[Painting: Les Disciples Pierre et Jean courant au Sépulcre le matin de la Résurrection, Eugene Burnand]
