I have a love/hate relationship with Stephen King books. I find the writing to be wonderful with intriguing plots and subplots. I get into the books because they are interesting and well written. But at the same time I find that the writings about people is a bit dark and depressing. Mr. King feels that there are so many vile parts of human nature that he has to write about on a regular basis and I don't always enjoy that. It isn't necessarily the main plot of the story either but little themes within the books talking about people's messed up thoughts and actions.
I just read "The Stand" again. It is a great book on a post-apocalyptic world. It really talks about good and evil and people coming together at the polar opposites to do one last battle. But something struck me about the story.
I like to think of myself as a good person, as most people do. I try my best to do right. But I stop and think about the fact that most people are like that. But in the book there are many people that find themselves on the "evil" side. So what is the difference between me and them?
I realize that choice is a big part of it but at the same time these people in the book didn't seem to understand that they were on the wrong side. They didn't see it like that. They found the side they believed in and lived it.
I wonder if we would truly end up on the "right" side if something like that happened in real life. Would I be on the side of righteousness and goodness or would I find myself in a state of mind where I feel like I am right but I am actually not? Most importantly - I think of myself as a good person but am I really? How can I put myself above other people and look down on them for being evil when I cannot be sure that I wouldn't be one of them in special circumstances?
Are we really better than them so much in our minds that we can automatically assume that we would end up on the right side if we came into a good vs. evil battle? How can we be sure?
I don't have answers.
I thank God that He forgives me even when I screw up because I don't want to be on the wrong side but I can't assume I wouldn't be led astray (that would be very egotistical of me).
One last thought - My life is not my own because I have been paid for with a steep price! I like that thought.
