I’ve been having a good ‘ol time with Re:Creators. It’s an eclectic mix of action and comedy and otaku stuff. For those unfamiliar, the premise is that characters from Japanese media are finding themselves sucked into the real world where they are shocked to discover that they are fictional characters. One in particular seems to know more about the goings on, and wants to gather the others for some purpose (a deep and terrible one I assume). Meanwhile, some of the suddenly-living personas are interesting in finding their makers.
As Selesia (a light novel heroine) and Meteora (an RPG NPC) discuss their situation, it becomes clear that they are understanding their creators as gods, individuals with immense power to create and destroy; people who might have the authority to make massive changes in their “stories”; and those worth asking the biggest questions in life.
The idea of “God as author” is a popular one with a lot of benefits for those who want to describe God’s nature and how he interacts with us. I was talking to a friend last week and we discussed the idea of God writing himself into his own story, and how we can understand God a bit through that framework. Unlike the light novel author who runs into Selesia in Re:Creators, though, God has purposely woven himself into our lives.
It’s a stunning way to view God. For all the words I sing to him in praise, I’m far more taken aback at the idea that he is one with the power to write our lives or erase them, and everything in between. I’m also reminded of one of my favorite writers, George R.R. Martin, whose A Song of Ice and Fire is a complex tapestry of stories and history, myth and characters. I often think about how much brainpower it takes to compose a tale of ASOIAF‘s magnitude and not be overwhelmed by it. God is of course able to handle far more.
Maybe more extraordinary, though, is to think of the comparison this way: I am Selesia. Or Light Yagami. Or Jaime Lannister. My story (or manga) is known from beginning to end by the author of salvation. And it’s so much bigger than me; it’s really a story of humanity, with characters numbering the billions. But in that micro-tale within, the mangaka has inserted himself, not for a funny cameo like Stan Lee would or for self-service, but for one reason above all. He’s written himself in because he loves me.
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
Psalm 139:16
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feature illustration artist: 刃天 | reprinted w/permission
https://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=62584013