“FROZEN II” AND MY ACHE FOR GLORY: PART ONE

I want to talk about this picture. I want to talk about the story behind this picture. And I want to talk about why I feel the way I do when I look at this picture.

The best way I can describe it is an ache.

For the few reading this who don’t already know, the picture is of Queen Elsa of Arendelle:  the colorful, sparkling kingdom in Disney Animation’s latest movie Frozen II (the wildly anticipated sequel to 2013’s Box Office Phenomenon Frozen). Queen Elsa is an Ice Queen. Literally. She can turn things to ice along with a slew of other cool (pun-intended) magical powers. In the first Frozen movie, Elsa both embraced her power and nearly died from it, walling herself off from the misunderstanding world until a selfless sacrifice taught her that love can thaw a frozen heart. In Frozen II, the beautiful Ice Queen must follow the call of a mysterious voice singing to her from the unknown and leading her on a quest to find the source of her power before Arendelle and everyone she loves is lost to certain disaster.

Now, I’m a Christian and as such I could simply tell you the entire point and purpose of Frozen II is worshiping the Created instead of the Creator and you should therefore keep yourself and your children as far away from it as possible…and that wouldn’t be wrong. Actually, it would be quite correct. And if that’s all you get and it’s enough for you then you don’t have to read the rest of this blog.

But, for me, that’s not enough. You see, I want to see Frozen II (and not just for “research purposes”). I haven’t yet because I’ve read so many reviews and spoilers to know that to do so could be a very dangerous thing, spiritually speaking. Yet, I want to see it. In spite of the pagan spirit worship, the heavy-handed environmental message, the painfully politically-correct “pro-indigenous people, anti-Christian Colonialist” plot line…I see the picture above, watch a trailer, or hear a song and suddenly want to rush off to the theater and spend my hard-earned money so Disney can further expand their grossly massive media empire.

Why?

Why on earth do I feel such a strong draw to something I know would be better left alone?

Because, like Elsa, I have a yearning. A desire. An ache.

I call it an ache for glory.

We all have it. Granted, what stirs it up in each of us may be very different. For me it’s stories and the arts, or animals and the beauty of nature. For you it may be the joy of having your family safe about you, the satisfaction of a job well done, the achievement of a new academic goal, the loyalty of a friend, the rush of a sports championship, the thrill of buying a beautiful thing (especially at a discount), the simple warmth of an embrace from someone who loves you just the way you are…the list is endless because we are each unique but the desire is always the same: a hunger, an ache to both lose and find ourselves in something bigger than ourselves, something beyond what we have known, something so consuming, so intoxicating it actually satisfies our aching souls while leaving us with a delicious desire for more of itself.

An ache for glory.

All good stories worth anything hit this note and Frozen II rings it like a gong (in fact, I would argue that the entire colossal success of the entire of work of Walt Disney Studios is their ability to hit this note in our hearts). Not only does the movie ring with it in the stunning visuals and powerful music but also in the story-line itself, for the quest of Queen Elsa turns out not only to be for the roots of her power or the salvation of her people…

Elsa is searching for glory.

Not “glory” in the sense that she is wanting to make a name for herself (she manages to do that rather well without even trying) but “glory” in the sense of something that will define her, something that will ultimately give purpose to her life and satisfy the longing she can neither explain or deny. A place where, finally, she can come home.

I think we can all identify with that. I know I certainly can.

Which is where things get tricky.

Ultimately, Elsa finds what she’s searching for. She finds the source of her hunger, the fountain from which all her desire flows. The place where she belongs. But is what she found the answer for our hunger as well? For my hunger? Can this ache for glory be satisfied by what the beautiful Ice Queen discovers? Or are we still left out in the cold: leaving the theater, like so many times before, to walk out into a dry world with a thirst we can’t quench?

It’s true: I do love this picture.

The beauty of it.

The power of it.

The glory of it.

But can such glory be found in real life by a human like me? And, if so, is the answer to Elsa’s journey the answer to mine?

I hope you’ll read my next blog post to find out…

Live EPIC,

CHRISTIS JOY