Bone Temples

In his young adult fantasy novel, Empire of Bones, ND Wilson describes what happens when a Dragon Spirit who inhabits the body of an ancient man is released from the chains that have bound it for centuries. This mythical god-man begins to draw people to himself as sacrifice. The dragon part of the man feeds on and is strengthened by the pain of mortals. If any humans are within his mental reach, he forces them to recall and replay all of the painful memories of their lives as though they were happening to them right then. Every painful memory is stabbed into their consciouses like a knife being twisted in a wound. Each memory is made to appear even worse than it was, and with even greater pain. 

Eventually the painful memories break the will of the people and they beg for the decptive relief that the dragon promises. He gives them a type of peace, but it's a peace which steals their entire lives. He separates them from all the people who have ever hurt them (which ends up being everyone). He numbs their pain, and they feel nothing, but neither do they DO anything any longer. In the story, they willingly stack their bodies up one on top of another while still alive and simply lie there, dying. Eventually they become bone temples for this dragon Gin.

The story is rather disturbing, but more than that - it's true. The deception of our modern times is that the way to find true peace is to relive every painful memory you've ever had flinging your pain in the face of the world - and then to cut yourself completely off from those around you who have inflicted the pain. Because we are fallen human beings, it is those closest to us that often have hurt us the most - intentionally or unintentionally. Usually, the pains relived are the everyday pains and hurts that we cause each other. Occasionally, there are stories of deeper hurts. 

But then the Great Dragon, the enemy of our soul, twists every painful memory into a giant web of paralyzing pain. He makes each of those painful memories seem as if they swallow all of the light and goodness in the world. And then he tells us that the only way to achieve peace is to cut ourselves off from anyone who has ever hurt us - to take ourselves completely out of this world and out of usefulness. 

People are sacrificing their entire lives at the temple of painful memories. It may bring a type of peace to them, but it is a sad, sad peace. 25% of adults in America have severed ties with their parent(s). They have cut off anyone who has not affirmed all their life choices - refusing to be in relationship with anyone who would ever challenge them to be a better version of themselves. This has reaked havoc* on households across America - and in the church.

One of the characters in the story I mentioned above is able to resist this dragon-man by remembering all of the good things that have happened in her life. She speaks the truth to herself -- "But it wasn't like that..."  Yes, her mother died when she was young.  Yes, her father didn't want her and 'gave her away' to her uncle.  But then her uncle had loved her well.  He sacrificed his time to take her to gymnastics and went to all her meets. He worked a second job to pay for her lessons.  He got up early to make her pancakes. And many other things.  

He I believe this is how we defeat the enemy of our souls as he tries to deceive us in the same way. We recount all of the ways that God has been good to us. We focus on those things rather than on the hurt caused us by those around us. We are commanded over and over in Scripture to rejoice, to recount the goodnesses of God.  And when we think of those around us, we are to view them through lenses of love.  1 Cor. 13 says that love "hopes all things".  When we examine the motives and intensions of others, we are to do it while assuming the best about them - not the worst.  The same goes for our memories of past interactions.  We are to remember them in "hope" - assuming the best motives.  We need to forgive others as God has forgiven us. Praise God.  Speak truth to ourselves.  Assume the best. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (Js 4:7)

*I am the first to acknowledge the fact that some situations require absolute separation.  I have personal knowledge of at least 2 families that have abused their children to the point that there is no possibility of reconciliation.  But that is a much smaller number than 1 in 4.  There is a trend right now to cancel anyone who doesn't do everything they'd like them to do - or who failed to raise them in the way they would have preferred. This is what I am referring to and so saddened by.