Circle of Life
By Rene Toyota, Administrative Assistant
A child will be born to us. A son will be given to us. He will rule over us. And He will be called Wonderful Adviser and Mighty God. He will also be called Father Who Lives Forever and Prince Who Brings Peace. (Isaiah 9:6–7)
I LOVE Disney cartoons and movies. Okay, I love a lot of kid-friendly movies, not just because I have three kids and was forced to watch the movies, but because Disney draws you into a fantasy world that you can disappear into for an hour or two.
I recently watched Disney's 2019 Lion King. It's about the Circle of Life, the old dying to bring something new. The lion Mufasa is the King of the Pride Lands, where he lived. Mufasa and his wife births a son that they named Simba. Simba is to take Mufasa's throne when Mufasa passes.
Simba is a curious little cub. And just like how the snake tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden to disobey God, Scar, Mufasa's brother and Simba's Uncle, tempts Simba to prove that he’s ready to lead the Pride Lands. And for Simba to prove it, he'll need to go into the dark valley.
Simba gives in to the temptation and eventually goes to the dark valley. Disobeying his father's orders never to go there. Simba eventually needed saving, and that's what got his father, Mufasa, killed. Scar then manipulates Simba by placing shame upon him and tells Simba that the best thing to do was leave the Pride Lands and never to return. With Simba gone, Scar can then take Mufasa's Kingship and rule over the Pride Lands as he always wanted.
Simba grows up hiding behind a hakuna matata "no worries" attitude with Timon and Pumbaa. Until his past catches up. He finds out that his home, the once very beautiful Pride Lands that was full of life and unity, has now dissipated under Scar’s ruling. There’s no life left in the Pride Lands. Food became scarce and whatever life remained was in danger. But, with some coercion from an old friend, Simba decides to go back home and fight to bring life back to the Pride Lands. In doing so, he’ll need to take back his Kingship from his Uncle Scar. Which in the end, he successfully did.
In the Collins Dictionary someone suggested this definition for circle of life: “Nature's way of taking and giving back life to earth. It symbolizes the universe being sacred and divine. It represents the infinite nature of energy, meaning if something dies, it gives new life to another.” It also represents vitality, completion, wholeness, and perfection.
That's what Lion King is about. Simba fought to give new life to what had died. Just like our loving Father has done for us. We all know it's not nature's way. It's God's way. He gave life to this earth. He gives life to each one of us.
Christmas represents hope in the Circle of Life. We are gifted a new beginning, under a new King, one who rules forever and ever. A King whose peace is firm and unshaken. A King whose ruling is unending. The gift of Jesus has allowed us to shed the old and have a new beginning. God has given us Jesus who is our vitality, completion, wholeness, and perfection.
This Christmas, instead of looking at what happened the last ten months or what's happening in the world now, let us look to God and praise Him. Let’s give Him thanks for the eternal gift He has given us. God has born a Son unto us. A Son who has given us everlasting peace, hope, and love. A Son who offers us a new life, a new beginning.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for gifting us Jesus––Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace––who gives meaning to the Circle of Life. Amen.
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