The Big Story

In Stranger Than Fiction, Will Ferrell plays IRS agent Harold Crick, whose life goes from humdrum to anything but when he begins to hear a mysterious voice narrating his every move. After considerable concern that he has in fact lost his mind, Harold discovers he’s the main character in a novel-in-progress. Harold sets off to identify the author who’s writing his story and to determine whether the story he’s living is a comedy or a tragedy.

There’s a scene in which Harold is talking to Ana Pascal, a baker who Harold has been assigned to audit and for whom he’s developed an awkward affection. After tersely refusing her offer of homemade cookies for fear they would be considered a bribe, Harold realizes his folly. “You were just trying to be nice, and I totally blew it,” he says. “This may sound like gibberish to you,” he continues, “but I think I’m in a tragedy.”

Hebrews 12:2 describes Jesus as the “author and finisher” of our faith. I love the image of God as a writer, as the author of each of our stories; weaving the intricate plot together, taking the time to develop each of His characters. And every now and then, we stop and we look up at Him and we ask where all of this is going. Like Harold, we question if maybe this book we’re living is a tragedy. And God looks down at us and He gently tells us not to worry. That our story is but a piece of a much larger story, of The Story. And He assures us that the end of The Story has already been written and (spoiler alert!) it couldn’t be further from a tragedy. That He will “make all things new.” Rev. 21:5. That for those who trust in Christ, He “will wipe away every tear.” There will “be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying . . . no more pain.” Rev. 21:4 Today, may we rest in the goodness of the loving author of our stories, of The Story. May we find peace that “He who began a good work in [us] will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil. 1:6