The “Dipper’s” of the World

Dipper Pines from the Disney Channel Series, “Gravity Falls,” (c) Disney Channel, 2013

Dipper Pines from the Disney Channel original series, “Gravity Falls,” is not exactly a physically strong character!

But, he makes up for it! I mean, who needs a big, muscular 30-something-year-old character when you can get a smart, sensitive 12 year old with a knack for adventure!?

It is Dipper’s personality and interest to do the right thing, to explore, to adventure out and investigate the mysterious that makes him strong. It is the love he has for his twin sister, Mabel and the connection he has with his older friends like Soos and Wendy bring out his personality, character and good heart.

But, I believe that Dipper went through all of these issues and more in order to make his character a lot stronger. Even in the last episode of the season, the book that Dipper used to explore the many mysteries of Gravity Falls, Oregon, was taken from him by his uncle, Grunkle Stan. He thought he still needed it, but Mabel reminded him that he didn’t need the book and that he was using it as sort of a crutch.

In some ways, it was as if Dipper wouldn’t be able to put credit on himself or on that mystery book, but on something more; Something deeper, something real to his character that makes him who he is.

Paul wrote the following text to the Corinthian church with regards to boasting and giving glory where glory is due:

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 says:

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;  and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.

The foolish, the weak, the base, the despised, the things which are not…these are who and what God has chosen to make his point to a world that wants to beat its chest and say “we did this.”

Out of all the “Gravity Falls'” characters, I relate most to Dipper Pines because he reminds me of my time as a kid.

Throughout the 1st Season, Dipper has posed the question “what is a man,” nearly got into a fist fight with one of the local bullies and had issues with his voice changing. The usual stuff for a 12 year old to go through, right?

The point is, God can use the “Dipper Pines'” of the world. You may not be all that strong, but God can use your weakness to show His strength. God can use your place of lowliness and bring high place, Jesus experiences into it.

 

Kendall Lyons is a minister, writer and blogger and often writes on his personal site, Cartoon Daily News and Kendall Lyons. When he’s not watching cartoons and drawing them or reading comics, he skateboards, spins times with family and travels.