story

Lost is my favorite TV show. It's a lot of fun to watch and talk about, but mostly the characters and the heart and depth of their story really connects to something in me. The clip above comes from last nights episode.

Ben is probably one of the darkest characters on Lost. He's done a lot of bad things and sacrificed a lot of people to have control. If anyone is beyond redemption in a show that specializes in redemptive character arcs, it's Ben. That's why the scene above is so powerful to me. It shows that Ben -- the manipulator, the schemer, the "bad guy" -- is *not* above redemption.

Locke is the current bad guy; "evil incarnate" according to one of the characters. And Ben is so lost and desperate that he feels like he has to join Locke because no one else will accept him. The look on Ben's face when Ilana welcomes him (somewhat less than enthusiastically) is just heartbreaking for me. (I mean, come on, this scene is superbly acted). It reminds me of my story of faith; my struggles with depression and low self-esteem. I always thought no one would accept or love me because of the ugliness inside me.

I just finished Don Miller's newest book on the power of story. I think a lot of what he says is right and true; about people wanting to live stories that matter. Ultimately the stories I love the most are the character pieces; the redemptive ones. Christ offers us all an opportunity to be a part of a redemptive character arc. It's an opportunity I eagerly grasp.