Everyone knows the story of the Sleeping Beauty. The thread of this tale has been woven through time, and each Beloved has her own trials and griefs. Yet each chooses to be a survivor despite the evil done to her. God’s heart for this story is to show us that no matter what may come, love can awaken our wounded hearts…and it is worth it.
The first Sleeping Beloved we’ll cover is Zellandine, whose story is just a small part of a larger saga called Perceforest: The Prehistory of King Arthur’s Britain.
The entire work is an anachronism. It’s “a veritable encyclopaedia of 14th century chivalry,” but the stories describe events after Alexander the Great’s (fictitious) conquering of Britain and his naming of Perceforest as king of England…
It’s time to meet our “Sleeping Beauties”! The following versions are the ones most clearly showing a turn in the thread of the story. There are, of course, hundreds of stories tracing their lineage back to the ones listed here.
The tale we know today as “Sleeping Beauty” has its roots in the Norse and Germanic myths of Brunhild and Sigurd…
The defining trait of our “Sleeping Beauty” is that she must not touch a spindle (or flax, if you read the earlier versions), or else she will die.
This is a strange “curse” to our modern ears, for we’ve lost the significance of spinning in our culture. Before the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th century, every stitch of cloth came into being through the work of women…
From the beginning, God is very clear on how He sees us. Read the verse above again. Let it sink in. Revel in the fact that we were made in His own image.
You, my dear reader, are made in the image of a Holy and Loving God. Therein lies your value, your worth, your identity. And God does not hold His image-bearers cheaply, but has spilled lavish blood to redeem you. You are, after all, His Beloved…
You have just read the original Sleeping Beauty tale. Yes, that’s right. The first Sleeping Beloved is the first human ever created: the man, Adam. This story is special, as it occurs before the Fall of mankind. It shows the ideal Sleeping Beloved, where there are no curses, only blessings. What is taken is done in love, without pain, and is immediately returned seven-fold…
“Sleeping Beauty” was my favorite story growing up. Perhaps it was Aurora’s lovely blonde locks, or perhaps it was how much Prince Philip loved her and fought for her. Probably both. Either way, I was convinced I would be just like Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty”, fairy friends and all.
And then I grew up – and made a mess of everything. I fell into my own “death-like sleep,” only to be re-awakened by Christ’s inexplicable love…