Dragons have long captivated the imagination of children and storytellers across cultures. And while most of the lore focuses on the brave prince slaying the dragon to rescue the princess, this is only partially true. While there’s a time to slay, there are also times to understand and own.
To be sure, dragons often represent chaos and destruction. And their presence holds back the beauty of life from flourishing. Personally, this might be any person, organization, or ideal that holds us back from God’s best. Slaying the dragon might then be cutting the apron strings from our parents, finding our voice in marriage, or finally standing up to the social forces that rob us of our freedom and power to do the work God has called us to do.
But dragons are also seen as the protectors of highly prized treasure. And here the point is not simply to slay but to understand. For instance, while it’s tempting to just kill the dragons of anger or lust, a better approach would be to understand that these dragons might show us the path to a deeper appreciation of justice and the pure joys of life.
And certainly dragons convey a type of wild energy and power. While potentially destructive, this power can also be harnessed for good. And to own a dragon is to do just this – redeeming the power God has given us to bring more life and goodness into the world.
Anger and lust, for example, no longer have to take us out. We can understand the deeper meaning behind these temptations and now “own” this power to bless and serve those God has placed within our path.
In the end, courageously face the dragons in your life. It’s only through seeing clearly that you have the wisdom to know when to slay, understand, or own.
