I love writing the thoughts of my mind, as to though express something that I cannot say audibly with words.
Beauty & the Beast.
"For who could ever learn to love... a beast?"
...That is the ending words of the epilogue. I remember watching it as a child and hearing that, and chills would run throughout my body. Funny thing is, I never knew why back then; but I understand it more fully now.
Belle is one of my absolute favorite Disney gals. She's a bookworm, lives for adventure- - or wants it really bad, is seen "different/odd" by others in her surroundings, loves life, and is beautiful inside and out. There's something about her- - her gumption, if you will, that makes her a very strong woman. She isn't about to just settle for the town hunk, Gaston, even though he vies for her attention over and over and thinks he deserves her. I began to realize that when a guy thinks he deserves a woman, it's not true. A guy should think, "I don't deserve her at all... but some how, she loves me." -Just as the Beast learned over time...
I think what's so great about this story is its relatedness to life. Growing up, I wanted to be just like Belle. I wanted to be that "beauty" someone fought for- -and still do. But I began to see myself more like the Beast than the beauty. I saw the reflection in the mirror, and I didn't like what it showed me. We have so many qualities just like Beast; being selfish, unkind, angry, bitter... you name it. Thankfully for us, we aren't under an enchanted spell and watching a magical rose drop its petals. But... we don't have all the time in the world either.
The most emotional part I could relate to was the Beast pushing away Beauty. She was very tender and slowly inviting... but he kept rejecting her; basically out of fear. He didn't want to let her in; he didn't want her to see him for what he was - - a monster. But that was the only thing he was allowing himself to see.
Beauty kept inviting him. Beauty kept alluring him. Beauty wasn't about to give up.
At the magical ballroom scene, we see them both letting each other in... slowly, but surely. Beast's heart is finally soften because of her gentleness. He realizes that he needs to let her go, because he loves her that much. He saw beyond himself to love someone else more.
I think that is so true to us. I see that as a relational connection to God. We don't think we're good enough for someone's love [or God's love], that we hold onto our anger/bitterness/hate, because that's all we see of ourselves. If we gave that over, what would be left?? But Beauty came to show the Beast that he wasn't who he thought he was... he wasn't seeing himself for what he truly was- - A Prince.
I see God doing that for us. He is like the Beauty, calling us closer to him-- but we can't be demanding and self-righteous in it. He's going to show us what's up, what we need to change, who we need to be. When we look at our reflection, he wants us to see HIM.
At the end of the movie, we all know what happens. Belle comes back for Beast; but he is tragically stabbed by Gaston [who falls to his demise off the castle tower]. Beast then dies. But something miraculous happens. Belle says "I love you" to him, and a tear rolls off her cheek onto him. I always saw that as such a beautiful ending. It could have been over with right there...
But the story wasn't over yet. Her love saved him and broke the spell.
I see that just like God for us. His love saved us. We were once beasts, but we died and were made new from his love... his Beauty.
Beast transforms into a human, back to a Prince, and he says, "Belle, it's me!" And Belle looks into his blue eyes, and she sees him completely- "It is you!"
They kiss passionately [well, I think so anyway!], and the enchanted castle is restored. Everything is beautiful again.
Because of Love. Beauty. Redemption.
So much of this is our Love story with our Creator. . . I like to believe it as such. We were once beasts, but beauty saw us for what we truly are... he loved us enough to restore us to what we once were: Princes and Princesses of the Most High.
What a beautiful story of love as it was meant to be.
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