Several years ago, a national news network regularly showed a segment on TV called "Everyone Has a Story" (at least, I think that is what it was called). The news network would randomly choose a city, open the phone book and randomly choose a name, and then interview that person and air their story. It was an enjoyable feature, sharing stories of everyday Americans. Every one of us has a story that we'd be happy to tell to whoever asks. Unfortunately, though, the stories we tell about ourselves are only about us.
A metanarrative can be defined as a view that encompasses the whole world, or a belief system that explains everything in the world. A metanarrative is basically one story that describes all of reality. You know, like the Bible.
French philosopher Jean-François Lyotard wrote that he defined postmodernism (a dominant, self-centered worldview) as "incredulity toward metanarratives" (as quoted here). In other words, there are no overarching, all-encompassing explanations. That way, instead of believing God's truth about the world, we can all have our personal, contradicting bits of truth and reality, because, ultimately, truth and reality don't exist. We live for pleasure, comfort, entertainment, and the pursuit of happiness. Sounds fun, right?
Those who hold such views might have a difficult time understanding the Pilgrims.
In 1620, 102 English Christians sailed for America on the Mayflower. Because of their unpopular religious views, they had been persecuted in England. They had high hopes for their time in America, but they also realized the gravity of their decision. After two months aboard a very crowded ship, the Pilgrims finally reached America in November of 1620. They were now safe from stormy seas and no longer had to live in cramped quarters below deck. Unfortunately, their troubles were far from over.
That winter, half of the Pilgrims died. The Mayflower stayed in the harbor through the winter, providing shelter for those who needed it. How the Pilgrims must have despaired as they found themselves without human help in a foreign, wintry land while their friends and family members were succumbing one by one to disease. When spring finally came and the spread of the disease was halted, the Mayflower left the shores of America to return home. This was the Pilgrims' chance to retreat to the safety and comfort of Europe! Yet not one Pilgrim returned.
They, of all people, knew of the danger. They felt the sting of loss. They knew that the coming months would be full of toil, hardship, and more death. Yet they stood fast.
As Winston Churchill once wisely said, "The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it and ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is." Sometimes we don't like the truth, but it is still the truth. And the truth is, there is only one metanarrative - and we didn't write it. The Bible informs us that God had a plan before time began. We weren't around for consultation.
The Pilgrims pursued their goal - not for individual accomplishment, but for the advancement of the Christian faith. Not for comfort, but for the betterment of the future generations who would come behind them. Not for the pursuit of happiness, but for the glory of God. They understood that God had a metanarrative, and was weaving their stories for His glory. This knowledge - and God's grace - sustained them through times and trials of disease, danger, and death.
The news network had it right - we all have a story. Ultimately, however, our stories are not about us, but about how God has orchestrated our lives into His great story. The big story of God gives our little stories meaning. Sometimes we hear stories that didn't end like we would have written them. What about the Pilgrims who perished that first, cold winter? What was the purpose? Why would God lead them on such a long journey only to have them die when they get there? When we realize that God has a plan bigger than our few years on earth, we can understand that, as hard as it may be for our earthly eyes to see, there is a plan, and God is in charge.
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