Story Fangirl

On this day of love, I was reminded of something I love. And it was my sister who put it a way I hadn't thought of before.

First, I feel like you should know a bit about Sara. She's fifteen and very much like me. Easy to laugh, kinda dorky, loves to read, is an artist, to name just a few. Obviously, I have a 7 year head start in the awesome department, but I think eventually she'll get pretty close to my level. She also has a tendency to easily become a 'fangirl,' i.e. someone who is captivated and gooshes about boys or something else they love.

Today, instead of staying home on Valentine's Day, we decided we would go to the movies and see "Beautiful Creatures." Good choice. We both loved it. I don't want to ruin it for you, so I won't get too far into it. Go watch it.

After the movie, I was gooshing about it, and Sara goes, "You're such a fangirl."

She wasn't wrong, exactly. See, earlier today, I also finished re-reading "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" with the intents of buying it on DVD today. I also gooshed quite a few times about both the book and movie. I was also gooshing about the preview for "Great Gatsby" we saw before the movie. You see, unlike a teenage girl, I'm not a fan girl over a boy band or actor. Oh no, mine goes much broader than that.

I'm a story fangirl.

Nothing gets me more excited than a good story. Medium in which that story is told matters little. I love a great book. Watching a story on film or on stage is great. Listening to a story on the radio or across the table from a friend is lovely. Walking through a museum and seeing story through art or history is wonderful. Even dreaming is a good way to enjoy a story.

There was a line in the movie (I won't be able to quote it exactly) where the main character was talking about his mother and her love of books. He said the library was her sanctuary, and her religion was the worship of ideas and thoughts. Now, in the movie it is said much more eloquently, but the idea struck me as beautiful.

I am drawn to story, to the odd thought or lovely idea. It is easy for me to stay up late reading (which is why I'm not allowing myself to start reading the "Beautiful Creatures" book that my sister bought tonight, I have a speech meet tomorrow morning). I may not agree with or believe in every thought or idea that is presented to me, but I love to read them and decide for myself.

I don't want to worship the concepts or ideas so much that I miss the meaning behind them or the God who inspired them, but isn't it lovely that we have a God that allows us to learn and discover and interpret things for ourselves? I only wish I had started doing such dangerous thinking sooner.

It was good for me to be reminded of how much I love a good story. Sometimes I get too busy to realize I'm leading a pretty good story, even if this current chapter seems a bit dull and repetitive.

Until next time.