The Gospel

sleeping beloved

The Waiting Time

This is where the story gets a little strange.  The first half of Perrault’s version is our “standard” Sleeping Beauty tale…but this?  This seems more in line with Shrek than any “standard” fairy tale.  I mean, the prince is half ogre!  Unlike our loveable Shrek, however, ogres in the 17th century were children-eating creatures (although somehow our prince manages to escape those cravings…the text says nothing about him being an ogre or wanting to eat his own children.  He’s the quintessential “good guy”). 

Yes, our prince has much to worry about, and he is right to tarry in the claiming of his bride…

By , ago
sleeping beloved

The Nameless Beauty

Our next Sleeping Beloved shows up in France only 50 years after Basile’s story.  Although some scholars point to Basile’s “Sun, Moon, and Talia” as the inspiration (which is certainly possible),[1] it’s also possible that it came from a variant called “Sun, Pearl, and Anna,” which cleans up the story a great deal (i.e. the prince takes the spindle out of Anna’s hand, she awakes, then they have children who are almost killed by Anna’s mother-in-law, the evil queen).[2]  

Anyway, part of a compilation of eight short stories, The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood was written by Charles Perrault in 1697 for King Louis XIV’s niece.[3]  It is one of my favorite versions.  Hands down, I will read it to my children.  It has beautiful imagery (the good fairy has a chariot pulled by dragons!), and has all the delightful qualities of a “fairy tale”…

By , ago
sleeping beloved

Without Love there is Only Death

The end is as satisfying as one of our own fairy tales.  The “rebellious” queen and her minion are certainly living in a “scorched land.”  Talia – a “prisoner” of the queen and once “deserted” to her sleeping death – is now “provided” for and is given “prosperity.”

And all because our Sleeping Beloved heeded the call of love…

By , ago
sleeping beloved

Changing Hearts

As I discussed last time, Talia speaks for the high-born women of the past.  Historically, a noblewoman’s worth was based on her ability to produce children, especially sons.  When a woman bore a healthy son, she secured her position and power.  (This is the world’s view, not God’s!)

It is no accident, then, that the king comes back to Talia and develops a “strong bond” after she has the children (named Sun and Moon).  Talia and the king are not in love, but the birth of their children gives them both what they desire: the king has a son, and Talia’s position is secure…

By , ago
sleeping beloved

The Love of the Father

Father is probably the first attribute we learn to associate with God, as it’s an easy concept for children to understand.  Granted, even the best of fathers can’t give as much love as God; but it’s such a tender picture of His love for us.

Talia’s father adores her.  A man doesn’t call fortune-tellers to his daughters crib otherwise.  He longs to protect her and ensure her safety.  When he discovers the danger, he immediately takes action.  There isn’t even a question in his mind!  Of course he will ban flax from his home.  Of course he will protect his daughter…

By , ago
sleeping beloved

Awakening Hearts: From Zellandine to Talia

The only love that can truly awaken your heart is the love of Christ, to which the Sleeping Beloved saga is an allegory.  Each of our versions covers an aspect of the awakening heart.  Zellandine’s story tenderly depicts the emotional journey of a survivor of violence.  We saw how nothing – no terror, no pain, no abuse – could ever separate us from the love of God (Rom. 8:35-379), and that His love is able to redeem all things (Isaiah 61:1-3). 

Because Zellandine’s story deals with the emotional journey of a survivor, it is timeless.  Our next heroine, Talia, is far more at home in the Medieval and Renaissance periods.  She speaks for a culture quite alien to us, a culture where women didn’t have a say and had to find contentment without love.  We saw this to a certain extent in Zellandine’s story; it is more pronounced in Talia’s…

By , ago
waiting

The Waiting Gap

We know the Lover and Beloved will be reunited.  We know that one day we’ll be in a place with no more tears, no more death, and no more pain.  The former things will have passed away, and all things will be made new (Rev. 21:4-5).  We don’t need to be troubled – we know He’s coming back.

We know this…yet we’ve grown weary of waiting.  We’re weary of the diagnosis being terminal, and watching our loved ones fade away.  We’re weary of reading of plane crashes and terrorist attacks in the news.  We’re weary of seeing our local youth succumb to Hopelessness and Despair, taking their own lives because they feel there’s no other way…

By , ago