Videogames have made quite the evolution since their first appearance. Some readers may feel negatively about videogames, believing the medium of entertainment to be filled with violence, fostering aggression in its players. While there certainly are “unsuitable” games, these are akin to weeds in a garden. In fact, many games offer wholesome stories and promote virtuous lifestyles; some can even be interpreted through a faith-based lens. Though I could offer several examples of such games, I want to talk about a specific game I have experience with.
Recently, I started playing The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD for the Nintendo Switch, a recreation of a title which originally came out on the Nintendo Wii. Having grown in age and faith since the first time I played this game, the beginning moments of the story resonated with me in a new way. For those who are not familiar, the beginning of the game starts off with the main protagonist, Link, being woken up by a letter delivery. The letter in question is from his childhood friend, Zelda, who reminds him about their prearranged meeting later that morning. Without spoiling details, everything continues as normal…until it does not.
As I reflected on the game, I noticed a similar pattern within several other games in the Legend of Zelda series. Though each game takes place with a different Link in a different time period, each Link is called to action. In The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Link is groggily woken up by his younger sister, who reminds him that it is his birthday. The birthday continues as a normal celebration, until things go awry, and Link is called to action. In The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Link is woken up in the night by a call for help from Princess Zelda. In each of these games, and others not mentioned here, there is a noticeable pattern of Link living his regular life until something happens that calls him out of normal living. To the Catholic mind, a call out of normalcy is familiar.
Think for a moment about the different saints and figures within the Bible who have been called out of normalcy in some way. Mary, the Virgin Mother, was called out of normalcy. Her husband, Joseph, was called out of normalcy. The Apostles were also called out of normalcy: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Mt 4:19). Matthew the tax collector, the fishermen brothers Peter and Andrew, James and John—they all were called by Christ out of their normal lives. The Old and New Testament alike are full of individuals called out of their normal lives into a new role. Even saints leading up to our modern day have been called from normalcy. Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, and, more recently, Blessed Carlo Acutis serve as such examples. This calling, however, is not just for saints and biblical figures; this calling is for us, too.
We are called by Christ out of our normal lives. We are called to bring God’s Kingdom about using the emotional, physical, and spiritual gifts we are equipped with. Breaking from normalcy does not mean doing away with routines and organization but breaking out of the all-too-common mindset of focusing solely on ourselves and our needs. This break can mean changing up the routines we are used to, going out of our way to practice the works of mercy or to visit our Lord in adoration. No matter the change, this call is meant to inspire the movement of our souls toward God.
As the Apostles were called to something greater than the lives they were already living, we are called to something greater. We are called to be in communion with God and with our fellow man; we are called to partake in the Eucharistic Feast, to be completely united with God in a unique and personal way. Just as the player must take control of the videogame, when we hear God’s call from normalcy, we must, like the saints, take action.
Photo retrieved from AlphaCoders.com
