Wayne's World: A Love Story Made in Heaven

by Wayne Geiger

I have a love/hate relationship with the Hallmark Channel. My wife has only the love part. She will even record episodes and watch the same show several times.

I keep insisting that it will end the same way as it did last time. She is not amused at my amazing perception. Deep down, I know that she believes in true love.

My complaint with the Hallmark Channel is that every show has a similar plot line. The characters and location are different, but the plot is virtually the same. Two people, two different backgrounds, both brought together by fate. Initially, there is dislike, distrust, or even competition; but underneath, there is a spark.

Of course, no story would be complete without some type of antagonist or plot twist. The couple goes their separate ways hurting and empty. But, after the last, long commercial break, we find that true love triumphs, and the couple embraces in true love’s kiss.

We’re left with the impression that they will live happily ever after. And there I am, pretending not to watch or care, but getting caught up in the story, a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. Even though I know how it’s going to end, I’m a sucker for happy endings and, deep down, I guess I, too, believe in true love.

As a Pastor, I’m convinced that every love story ever told or written is merely a reflection of a grandiose story—a love story made in eternity. This story is as old as time itself.

It’s a story that is reflected in movies time and time again. In fact, if you were to merge the Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, any Disney movie that involves a princess, The Matrix, and the Hallmark Channel, you’d get an idea.

As scene one opens, the great king, who is wise, fair, and compassionate, rules over his kingdom with truth and justice. In his kingdom, there is love, intimacy and equality. But a vicious enemy, lurking in the darkness, rises out of the smoke, from the pit of despair.

Driven by a dark, covetous heart, this dark lord, or great dragon as some call him, seeks to undermine the relationship between the king and his citizens. He seeks to replace love and light with hatred and darkness.

The dark lord is crafty and knows that he cannot prevail in an attack against the king. So, instead, he chooses to attack those closest to the king’s heart: his citizens.

The king is not unaware of this stealth attack and allows it to come. For, you see, the king is the author of this love story. The storyline was written to reveal the proof of his love.

Under the cover of darkness, the great dragon, like a serpent, slithers into the scene to deceive the king’s citizens. His arsenal is filled with lies and deception. His goal is to undermine the sincere motives of the king and lure away the heart of the citizens—deceiving them with a deadly, evil potion.

In a moment of weakness, enticed by the dark lord, they willingly drink the evil potion. The great dragon laughs in delight. By default, they have become outcasts having joined the dark side. They choose infinite rebellion over intimate relationship.

The dark lord has won a major battle, it appears—at least for a chapter or two. The outcasts are engrained in the evil empire, enslaved by the dark lord, and imprisoned in seclusion and darkness. Like the dark lord they serve, they become a prideful, arrogant people of cruelty, consumed by hedonism and self-preservation.

In time, the memory of the king disappears, and the outcasts actually come to embrace their captivity and admire the dark lord. Their eyes are blinded to the fact that they are in a prison constructed by their own choices.

The dark lord’s grip upon the outcasts is strong and unrelenting. The only cure to this darkness is the power of true love. Although the king has the power to annihilate the great dragon at any moment, the king chooses, instead, to give the outcasts the opportunity to choose to return his love. The king’s rule is not by intimidation, but by invitation.

According to the story, in order to release the outcasts, two things must take place. First, the ultimate sacrifice must be paid. The king must voluntarily sacrifice his only son, the crown prince.

The second thing is that the outcasts must recognize their rebellion and openly and unconditionally confess their love and devotion to the king and crown prince.

The king sends the crown prince to proclaim the conditions of the outcasts’ release. Seizing the opportunity, the dark lord and members of the rebellion capture the crown prince and, showing no mercy, humiliate, and brutally exterminate the prince. For several days, the evil and twisted members of darkness celebrate the apparent victory over the king.

But the king, the true author of this love story, has a surprising twist in the story plot. Because love is the most-powerful force in the universe, the crown prince victoriously awakens from his slumber. His life was not taken. It was given.

The outcasts who recognize their error, give their heart to the crown prince and transfer their allegiance from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. Once her eyes are opened, she realizes that she was not an outcast, after all, but royalty. She is a princess and future bride of the crown prince.

Her mission, now, is to illuminate and awaken other outcasts who live under the spell of darkness. The crown prince returns to the king promising his princess that he will one day return to bring her home forever.

Having been outwitted and humiliated, the great dragon is filled with rage. He unleashes his fury upon the princess causing great pain and havoc. But she cares not for her own life. She has tasted true love, will not relent, and presses on.

Fearing that others will bet set free from their prison, the dark lord tightens his grip upon the outcasts of the dark country which begins to implode under the weight of arrogance and self-indulgence.

As the ink begins to dry upon the final chapter and the last grain of sand falls from the hourglass, the king reveals his dramatic ending. With triumphant fanfare, the promised crown prince is revealed victoriously riding a magnificent, white stallion, wielding a righteous sword. The dark rebellion, overcome by the brilliant light of love and goodness, can offer no resistance and fall helplessly.

The king brings an immediate end to the rebellion and the dark lord is found guilty of rebellion, sentenced to swift and eternal punishment.

The crown prince extends his hand and invites the princess to come forward and take her prepared place by his side. In deep appreciation and love, she humbly bows at his feet. He smiles, raises her up, and lovingly gazes into the eyes of his beloved princess, tenderly placing his hands on her face. The former outcast is his long-awaited bride.

She is home and in the presence of true love. No longer does she have to live in darkness, shame, fear, and pain. Her knight in shining armor has arrived. The crown prince escorts her to the royal carriage where, together, they ride off into the sunrise and live happily ever.

Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Church Grain Valley, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Speech at Johnson Country Community College, and a freelance writer.