The Fire Swamp

I love "The Princess Bride". Definitely in my top 10 favorite movies of all time.


We own the original book by S. Morgenstern as well as the video tape (yes, a VHS), and just got the DVD as a gift from a friend. When Julie and I first got married, it was our favorite movie.  I gave the book to Julie when I proposed (along with a rose and a huge bag of M&Ms - she couldn't resist!) and read it to her while she was pregnant with Sarah.


If you haven't seen it, rent it. No, buy it. Its a story of true love. The classic love story - with a nice dose of adventure, danger, sadness, happiness, fear, joy, and even a "resurrection" of sorts thrown in.  Its a great parallel for life. Its also a good parallel for our relationship with God. Just as nothing can stop the True Love that Wesley and Buttercup have for each other, nothing can separate from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:39).


Wesley leaves to find his fortune and make a better life for he and Buttercup.  He gets captured by pirates, of course, and she believes him dead. He comes back to save Buttercup who is being set up by the prince (also known as her "pig fiance"). Wesley, disguised as the "dread pirate Roberts", pursues her captors. He defeats them all (you have to watch the movie just for the fight scene and dialogue between Wesley and Inigo Montoya) and catches up to her, still disguised. 


And, after an argument, she pushes him down a huge hill. He reveals himself as he tumbles head over heels, and realizing her mistake she leaps and tumbles down after him. Together again, they run to the only place they can escape their pursuers - right into the Fire Swamp.  


Nasty place, with 3 great terrors: sudden bursts of flame, lightning sand, and of course, ROUSs (Rodents of Unusual Size).  

Our Very Own ROUS - Jake!

Buttercup of course, is terrified. Wesley?  One cool customer. He figures out how to survive the terrors, and even offers to stay forever in the Fire Swamp, as long as he can be with his true love.


I feel a bit like the surgery Julie just went through was like tumbling down the hill that Buttercup and Wesley had to deal with. Steep. Hard. Bumpy. Painful.  But they got back up and were able to share the simple joy of being together. 


Only to face the terrors of the Fire Swamp.


This next week, I feel like we are entering the Fire Swamp. I wish I had the confidence of Wesley. Regardless of the "terrors" we are going to face - chemo, radiation, genetic testing, whatever - we have each other. And most importantly, we get to walk together, hand-in-hand. I love walking hand-in-hand with my true love. And, there is much peace knowing God is walking ahead of us, and will carry us when we can't walk anymore.


Now, if I can just figure out how to avoid the six fingered man and the Pit of Despair...and lets pray we won't need Miracle Max...