Twilight Reflections

I have just finished reading the final book in Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series - 'Breaking The Dawn'. It was the best of the four books in the series in my opinion. The author finished strong. Much like the Harry Potter craze, Twilight has a similar teenage following. I really appreciated how Stephanie Meyer addressed many teenagers’ struggles in a form of fantasy but with a high moral standard. I know you thinking... "hello it's a vampire story - they drink blood for pete sake!" It is so rare that anything our youth see or read these days can have a positive impact on how they should cope or act in certain situations. 

Here follow my reflections on Twilight...

1. Jacob. Shame, nothing seems to go right for this poor werewolf in the majority of the story. It seems like he is never going to get the girl or have his plans work out. I am sure at some stage in our lives we can all identify with Jacob - no matter how hard we try or how much effort we put into something we want to achieve, it never seems to work out for us. We start to lose hope. Well, the lesson to be learnt from Jacob is that it was all part of the plan. Nothing Jacob had planned or hoped for was ever meant to work out, because there was something else for Jacob, something more, and something better - a perfect plan for Jacob's life. But Jacob had to go through all the 'things not working out phase' in order to be in exactly the right place for things to work out perfectly and for it all make sense and 'get the girl' so to speak. 
2. I love how the author addresses the teenager's sexual desires and how strong they can be. But also how important it is to have set boundaries for themselves in the beginning of the relationship, then to have someone in the relationship that is being responsible and in control not to cross the boundaries. I love and really appreciate how high Stephanie Meyer set the moral standing here… that she gave Edward (the gorgeous vampire) old school traditional morals of wanting to be married first - because he considers his human girlfriend's soul first, over and above his desires. I don't think many teenagers hear or even see that in the world anymore, and here Stephanie addresses it and sets boundaries in a vampire story - that’s incredible! 
3. Bella and Edward get married and Bella falls pregnant. You have to read the book to understand the implications of this pregnancy. Stephanie Meyer again approaches a teenagers struggle with an unwanted pregnancy - everyone wants her abort the child because it is the safest, easiest option. They are scared. We are torn between her love for the child and risking losing everything including her life. Abortion is not the best option - abortion is acting in fear. Bella's love for her child, and her insistence in making the right choices are the reason everything works out perfectly. 
4. Bella never really fits in. In her human form she is a misfit, always feels like she doesn't belong, and that her talents are not purposeful. But once she takes on her vampire form she finds a place she belongs perfectly. All of her imperfections are made perfect. The reasons for her strange talents become apparent once she is a vampire. She belongs to something more than herself, and for the first time she feels confident, has an identity and a purpose. To me this is so much like when we become christians. We belong. We have a new identity because we know we belong to someone and something bigger than ourselves. God makes the ordinary extraordinary. And we see that we all have talents God can use - which gives a sense of purpose and belonging. Like with Bella - Our weaknesses often become our strengths and our struggles from our past are often the reasons we are so effective in Gods purpose for our lives.
5. The Cullens. Born into the vampire world, they have the same desires for human blood and the hunt that goes with it. Yet, they have chosen a different way of life. They call it a ‘vegetarian lifestyle’. To the rest of the vampires in the world this is foolishness – they cannot understand how this lifestyle would be possible or even look attractive. The truth is that the Cullens made a choice to live a different way of life. They still have to struggle against their cravings and desires for human blood as that is in their nature. But their choice and commitment to be different so they can belong to the Cullen family is what gives them the strength and ability to resist. The benefit of their family, to them, is far more attractive than any that human blood could ever satisfy. I find this similar to being a part of the christian family – it is a choice. To many it doesn’t seem attractive or even possible. Yet it is.