Everything is interpretation. We all interpret things differently. Here at school you will find countless people with different theological viewpoints and beliefs, though sharing in the unities of the Christian faith. Some people believe women can be pastors; others disagree. Some think baptism is necessary for salvation; others do not. Some people think that hell is eternal torment, others think it is eternal destruction. All of these views flow from different interpretations from biblical texts. But interpretation goes beyond how we read sacred documents. We all interpret relationships differently. We interpret happiness and sorrow differently. We interpret our lives differently. Our interpretations have a huge affect on how we interact with others, relate with others, how we spend our minutes, hours, days, months, years. Interpretation is everything—the fates of our lives, to a real degree, hinge on interpretation.

I am writing a story for my friend Jessie. Here is the prologue (I’m on chapter three right now):

In the days of the Rule of the Blade, when Muredach the Iron Falcon ruled over the Kingdom of the Viridians, all hope of deliverance had been lost. The iron fist of Muredach and his legions of the Blade had quenched all hope from the hearts of the Viridians, and any who dared hope were silenced by the edge of the sword. The land of the Viridians had once been prosperous, overflowing with laughter and love, with drink and good weed, with the sound of harps and lyres and children playing in the streets; but those days were no more than memories, for the land had grown dark, and a shadow hung over the hearts of all who dwelled in the forsaken lands. It was in these days that I, Lysander the Great, came into the world. By the hand of the gods, propelled forward by fate, and yet knowing not that I played in a cosmic drama for which none dared to dream, I found myself on a journey that would take me through the great joys and sorrows of life, a journey in which I would taste many tragic defeats and fruitless victories. For it seemed that the Shadow would never depart, and that Muredach and his legions were too strong; but there played in the heavens a greater force, a power beyond reckoning, and it is by the favor of the gods that I now write this. I wish to tell you my story, the story of one who did not know his role in this cosmic drama until the prophecies were fulfilled. It is a great story of triumph and loss, of victory and defeat, of shattered hopes and blossoming dreams. This is the story of the liberation of the Viridians and the inaugurating of a new eschatological age.

It’s been an interesting day, full of ups and downs and unexpected twists and turns. Drama? Yes. But not necessarily bad drama. Some drama can be good, I guess. In the end, two of my friends are doing great, conflicts are resolved, and we can hope that they remain that way.