It’s All About the Girl – a Few Easter Musings

One of my favorite movie quotes is from the opening scene of “Spiderman” when Peter Parker states, “But let me assure you, this, like any other story worth telling, is all about a girl.”  Peter Parker was right, wasn’t he? Who would care about a giant ape in the jungle if he didn’t steal the girl who stole our hearts? Would William Wallace’s fight for freedom be quite so epic if he wasn’t spurred on by the hope of reuniting with his lost love? What would Robin Hood be without Maid Marion? “Is she worth it?” If the heroin isn’t worthy of the danger and suffering of the hero, the story usually isn’t worth our time.

Interesting trivia: Nearly every culture has some version of the story of Cinderella.  A partial list from http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0510a.html

The Cinder Maid (reconstructed from various European sources by Joseph Jacobs).

Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper (France, Charles Perrault).

Cinderella (Germany, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, version of 1812).

Link to the version of 1857 (English translation).

Katie Woodencloak (Norway).

The Broken Pitcher (England).

Ashey Pelt (Ireland).

Fair, Brown, and Trembling (Ireland).

The Sharp Grey Sheep (Scotland).

Rashin-Coatie (Scotland).

The Hearth-Cat (Portugal).

Cinderella (Italy).

Little Saddleslut (Greece).

Conkiajgharuna, the Little Rag Girl (Georgia).

Pepelyouga (Serbia).

The Wonderful Birch (Russia).

The Baba Yaga (Russia).

The Wicked Stepmother (Kashmir).

Maria and the Golden Slipper (Philippines).

The Poor Turkey Girl (Native American, Zuni).

The Turkey Herd (Native American, Zuni).

The Indian Cinderella (Native American).

 The Green Knight (Denmark).

What makes this story so universal? It certainly fits the criteria of being all about the girl, in fact most fairy tales are, and while waiting for Prince Charming and the expectation of happily ever after have fallen out of favor with some, the picture of the damsel in distress, or struggling in oppression or danger or poverty often at the hands of the wicked stepmother being rescued by the brave handsome and virtuous prince is so deeply engrained in our cultural psyche we try to extract it at our own risk.

Let me offer speculation as to why the Story of Cinderella resonates in all levels of human existence. I believe it is an allegory of humanity itself.  Cinderella represents humanity; her situation represents the hopelessness of the human condition and Prince Charming? He is the Lord.  It’s not a perfect analogy of course but it is recognizable to something deep inside of us as the Gospel story.

Humanity was in Hopeless straights but it was not the misfortune of a wicked stepmother that caused our misfortune it was our own sin, unable to save ourselves we were the poor hapless maiden, though unlike the fictional Cinderella we had no beauty or virtue to recommend us to the Prince our depravity, like Cinderella’s poverty, made us undesirable, our garments stained with sin not ashes could never be cleaned by normal means.

It took magic to transform Cinderella so that her beauty could be revealed we needed much more. Our flaws were in our character not a ripped dress and smudged face, bippity-boppity-boo and a fairy godmother just wouldn’t do. We needed a Savior, and oh what a Savior we got!  He didn’t just wash our face, he cleansed our soul, no new ball gown, we got garments of righteousness, and best of all it doesn’t end at midnight. The cost for him though was high; he had to take upon himself human form than take up a cross. Sin can’t be waved away with a magic wand it can only be removed when the penalty for it is paid. Our beloved Prince paid the price for it with his death and in so doing transformed us into the pure maiden he would have as his bride. He didn’t love us because we were beautiful; he made us beautiful by his love.

Though we have danced with him and felt his love we still abide in our stepmother’s house, we still struggle with the trials of this world but his coming for us is certain, he needs no glass slipper to identify us, He knows us intimately and His Spirit seals our hearts. One day our Prince will come, on a cloud of Glory, in power and majesty as King of kings and Lord of lords, and that day may not be much farther hence. Our relationship to Christ is described as a marriage, Heaven as the marriage feast and we as the spotless bride awaiting the groom. The story of the gospel is better than any fairy tale because it is true But let me assure you, this, like any other story worth telling, is all about a girl, and from the Lord’s point of view, we are that girl!

Happy Resurrection Sunday!