Reflections on The Hunger Games

If you want your entire weekend absorbed in a book you can't put down, then I am going to recommend The Hunger Games trilogy--not that I have even read all three yet, but I'm sure I'll be done with them in a week!  But--WARNING--they are not for the faint of heart.

So, why am I going to give you a book review on my "Downsizing" blog?  Keep reading and you will understand.  Or, at least you will if you've read the book.

My initial encounter with the first book (The Hunger Games) was this Christmas when my niece asked for it as a gift.  I thought she wanted to book about weight loss.  Ha ha!  It wasn't until I read the back cover of the book that I realized, "Oh, this is NOT what I thought it was!"

Suddenly, I was hearing about this book from every person I encountered.  I have no time for pleasure reading.  I read slowly--it takes me a long time to read through an entire book.

I never imagined, when I picked it up on Saturday, that I would finish it before lunchtime today.  I think that is a record. Yet, from the very first page, The Hunger Games had me sucked in as if I were one of the actual players in their game.

The story revolves around two teens who are summoned to participate in the country's annual "Hunger Games."  The country is a redistribution of North America--in the FUTURE.  Suzanne Collin's paints a very vivid possibility for a grim political structure.  Each year, two children (ages 12-18; 1 boy and 1 girl) are chosen from each of the existing 12 districts to fight to the death in a natural arena, while the whole gruesome manhunt is televised for all to see.

The Hunger Games movie will be out in March 2012

Katniss Everdeen, the main character, and her District #12 competitor, Peeta, are both underdogs.  Katniss is thin and small.  Her district is very poor and she has had to hunt for food her whole life.  She is a survivor before she even enters the arena.  Her whole life has been about surviving.  Walking through Katniss' fictitious journey with her this weekend I could clearly see God, even though I don't think Suzanne Collins had any intentions of pointing her audience in His direction.  I was reminded of this powerful truth:

"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." 1 Cor. 1:27

In every situation, even in years of suffering, God knows the future and knows how our suffering will benefit us.  He knows how every experience in our past and in our present will pertain to our needs in the future.  We don't get to have that future perspective.  But He does.

I wanted to lose weight for years.  YEARS.  I struggled to understand why He would not help me.  I worked hard, I trained hard.  I sulked.  I quit.  I made up excuses.  But God has reasons beyond what I could ever see, for EVERYTHING He does.  I don't pretend to know what they are.  But I write about this because I don't want to forget, that HE sees the future.  I don't.  A day of starvation may be right around the corner.  A day of terminal illness when I would be thankful for a few extra pounds may be lurking ever-near.  Or a day of freedom may taste all the sweeter thanks to the pain of the past.

If I learned something from "The Hunger Games" it was to be thankful for what I have and where I am right now.  To walk each day in obedience with the Lord, as though it could be my last.  To know that there is a greater purpose than what I can see with my earthly eyes.

I grow more and more thankful every day for my weaknesses.  He chose the weak things of the world to shame the wise.  Only He could understand that concept properly and be so patient in teaching me.  And He can even use a book like "The Hunger Games" to help me see it more clearly.