Dragons

Year 4-Day 65: Today...I am grateful for dragons. 

Yes, dragons. I love this Mary Oliver quote: 

"I want to think again of dangerous and noble things. I want to be light and frolicsome. I want to be improbable and beautiful and afraid of nothing, as though I had wings."

When our firstborn son was little, he would lay and chatter before bedtime. How precious were those moments! He would say, "Let's talk about dangerous thing." And we would. 

I think the conversations were inspired by "Safety First" from Disney's Baby Mickey series, but it offered opportunities to prepare him for some life obstacles and dangers to avoid. At least...as much as you can discuss with a child of three or four years. He was either gathering safety tips... or imagining the adventures he could find if he threw caution to the wind. 

Sometimes, we think about danger to keep us safe.  Other times, it makes us brave. 

This quote evokes..for me...the image of riding a dragon. Not an easy feat. First you have to find a dragon, befriend it, train it and then find the courage to take flight when it offers a ride. Maybe, it made me think of the movie "How to Train Your Dragon". 

We never outgrow the need for a sprinkle of whimsy in our souls. We are never too old to try something new.  We are never too mature to delight in the magnificence of a dragon. 

Dangerous. Powerful. Improbable. Beautiful. Fearless. And perhaps...friend-worthy. Our second loved "Pete's Dragon" when he was little. His child's heart only saw the friend...not the foe.  

Why slay our dragons when we can train them, learn from them, fly with them and make them our friends? Fear fights...courage takes flight. What will we choose today? 

Now, evil must be fought. The Bible is clear that evil is present, real and relevant. 

Ephesians 6:11-13 is powerful and a we have been studying it in our Sunday School class. 

 "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."

And then, I think about Jesus who came to be with us... and is with us... through His Holy Spirit. There is encouragement in Colossians 1:15-17:

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

We must determine what is evil and dangerous...or if fear comes from lack or relationship and understanding. Having never met a dragon, I imagine there are good and evil...just like people. It boils down to who we make our Master and our King. 

In the "fight or flight" moments...in the scary spots of life...He is our courage, our strength, our discernment and our guide. "He holds all things together". He is our courage, strength and hope. We are not alone when we take flight. 

He holds us in the palm of his hand. His plans for us are for hope and a future. 

Today...I am grateful for dragons.