In theatres this May, The Little Mermaid is a live-action adaptation of Disney’s 1989 animated film of the same name, which is based on a fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen in 1837. The 1989 movie is probably bestknown for its music, and producer Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) confirmed that all of the original songs are included in the remake, as well as some new ones.

A Treacherous Exchange
The film tells the story of a young mermaid princess named Ariel (Halle Bailey, The Color Purple), who is fascinated with the human world. Ariel’s father, King Triton (Javier Bardem, Dune), is protective of his underwater kingdom and especially of his seven musically inclined daughters. When Triton discovers Ariel’s secret collection of artifacts from the human world, he warns her that human beings are dangerous and demands that she remain under the water, where she’ll be safe.

Of course, Ariel doesn’t listen. She is drawn to the surface, where she witnesses a boat being shipwrecked, its passengers thrown into the sea. She rescues one of them, a handsome prince named Eric (Jonah Hauer-King, World on Fire). Ariel falls in love with him and vows to find a way to be with Eric on land. Triton is livid when he discovers Ariel’s plans.

Desperate to make her dream of living on land a reality, Ariel makes a deal with Ursula (Melissa McCarthy, God’s Favorite Idiot), the evil sea witch who is jealous of King Triton’s power. She gives the witch her most valuable possession: her beautiful voice. In exchange, Ursula casts a spell that changes Ariel’s mermaid tail into human legs, but their trade has a catch that could put everything—and everyone—Ariel values in jeopardy.

Ariel, despite being a mermaid, defiantly insists that her true home is on dry land among the humans.
DIANE STARK

Our True Home
Ariel, despite being a mermaid, defiantly insists that her true home is on dry land among the humans. She cherishes her collection of items from the human world and risks everything to become a part of it.

Each of us was born on earth, but if we are Christians, the Bible says our citizenship is in heaven (see Philippians 3:20). That is our true home. Despite this truth, too many of us are too comfortable here in the human world. Like Ariel, we collect things and can become distracted by material trappings. We might even chase something less tangible, such as fame and popularity.

The things we collect in this world can distract us from our true calling: telling other people that God wants us to be part of His heavenly world for eternity. But unlike Ariel’s deal with the sea witch, there’s no catch in God’s offer. God made humans to live in relationship with Him, and in the beginning, that’s how it was. But Adam and Eve sinned, and that separated humans from God. But God still had a plan. He loves us so much that He sacrificed the most precious thing He had—His Son, Jesus—so we could once again become part of His world.

Not only that, God wants to be the centre of our world while we’re still here on earth. He’s always with us, and He cares about everything that happens to us. If we invite God into our lives in this world, someday, He will welcome us into His heavenly world for eternity.

Illustration: Courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

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