Mining for Beauty, Virtue and Grace

A few years back Disney World's Magic Kingdom took out "Snow White's Scary Adventure" and later added a new roller coaster, "The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train." While the new attraction has more ride and less story, the train still makes a stop at the Dwarves Cottage to reveal a tableaux which may be my favorite scene in Walt Disney's original animated feature film: Inside, the beautiful Snow White dances to a happy tune, winning the hearts of her dwarvish hosts. Outside, a wizened old woman knocks with a basket full of apples.

Of course, those who know the story recognize that this is really Snow White's stepmother, disguising her cold beauty in the form of the wicked witch. Informed by her faithful Magic Mirror that she is no longer "the fairest one of all," the vain Queen is determined not to be upstaged by her demure stepdaughter. She prepares a poisoned apple with a spell of "living death" which puts Snow White into a state of perpetual sleep—until she is awakened by True Love's Kiss.

The great irony of the story is that the Queen, so obsessed with being the most beautiful, ends up transforming herself into something so hideous. She is a picture of the effects of the vices of sin. The God-given beauty of human nature is twisted and corrupted from within by pride, envy, jealousy and hatred.

Snow White, on the other hand, demonstrates the kindness and grace that match outer beauty with inner virtue. She wins over Grumpy and the rest of the dwarves by her humble service and joyful self-giving—cooking their dinner, cleaning their cottage, singing and dancing all the while. The Apostle Peter called this "the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." (1 Pet. 3:4)

Nevertheless, Snow White's virtues are not enough to keep her from all harm. Like Eve the Garden of Eden, she falls for the temptation of the deadly apple. Her coffin-like sleep, awaiting the kiss of her prince, is a picture of the Christian in physical death, awaiting the return of Christ.

Thus, Snow White's tale brings together two complimentary sides of the gospel: On the one hand is our future hope of rescue from the spell of death, guaranteed not by our good works but by the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. On the other, the transforming power of the Holy Spirit within, that empowers us to overcome our vices and develop the virtues.

Which brings us back to the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. What the new ride highlights is the daily work of the diminutive diggers: Like the Queen, they are obsessed with beauty—but rather than look for it in a mirror, they seek it in the shining jewels in the depths of the earth. They do not create this beauty, but they do labor long hours to uncover it.

In the ancient scriptures we read, "Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God." (Prov. 2:2-5)

Without seeking for God's wisdom, each of us is liable to become like the wicked Queen, overwhelmed with our own vices, twisted by our pride into the darkest version of ourselves. But if we dig deep for understanding, we find God's grace ready to help us, showing us the path of inner virtue and joy followed by Snow White. In those mines of grace we uncover the greatest jewel of all: Faith in Jesus Christ, the one True Love, who offers us the hope of eternal life.

Heigh ho, heigh ho, it's off to work we go!