I don't know how many of you are Once Upon a Time Fans...But I am definitely "hooked" on it (Pun intended). Once Upon a Time is one of those shows where you constantly change how you feel about each character. You go to their past...swing back to their present. See their mistakes...see their growth. There is so much character development, and I really appreciate the show for that.
There is one character that has been the source of a lot of the evil that has happened in both storybrooke and the enchanted forest. Even his title indicates that you should steer clear of him. "The dark one"...or more specifically "Rumpelstiltskin", teacher of the dark magic. Again and again we see how consumed he is with his anger and revenge, and how dependent he is on his magic. As we travel back to his past, we see a small, poor, man who is filled with fear. A wimp who couldn't fight the man who was kidnapping his wife, and who abandoned his son, Neal, so he could keep his power. We develop a strong distaste for this guy early on (and his algae colored skin doesn't help him much). The more I watch this crazy, intriguing show, though, the more I can relate to Rumpelstiltskin. Although, at first it seems that he is evil to the core, we eventually see Belle come into Rumpelstiltskin's life and bring the good out in him. Love touched him, and he had a longing to be a good person...and to do what was right. Occasionally, he would slip back into the darkness and give into his hate. But Belle, and eventually his long lost son, would help him come back into the light.
I can relate to Rumpel. I have this "old self" that has darkness and sin. I also have my "new self" that has been touched by the love of Jesus. Jesus is the only good in me, and the only one who can bring out that good. Just like Belle is the only one who can bring out the good in Rumpel. Even when I give into my evil, I am able to fall back and receive forgiveness for my mistakes. And we see Belle, time after time, forgive her Rumpelstiltskin. Not comparing Belle to Jesus. But I do think it's a beautiful glimpse of what our relationship with Jesus looks like. And I definitely think that Belle is a gracious person that is to be admired. One of my favorite parts in the entire show so far was when Rumpelstiltskin realized that the love he had for Belle and Neal were more precious to him than his life. And, on that episode, he became a true hero as he was willing to sacrifice himself for the town of Storybrooke. And this character is just one example of all the touching stories told in this show. I definitely fell in love with this beautiful enchanted world.
