There's no point in denying that stories are told in order to teach lessons, but what lessons are those stories teaching us? And is that what the author intended when it was written?
A couple of years ago, in a reading class I was taking in order to fulfill a credit for my Early Childhood Education degree, I learned a little about children's stories and the awards the authors and illustrators could win. One Caldecott winner we read was The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. This story was recently made into a motion picture.
It is a story about a boy who, at a crucial age in his life, is trying to decide on whether or not to continue to believe in Santa Claus and all its grandeur. It is a journey of faith, imagination, and adventure. At the climax, when the children finally arrive at the North Pole, three of them (including the boy) get separated from the group and must find their way back to where Santa, all the elves, and the other children are. Two of them can hear the sleigh bells, yet the main character cannot. They follow this musical sound back to where everyone else is. The little boy even sees the bells jingling on the reindeer yet cannot hear them ringing. Then, all the elves sing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" as he appears. The little boy is the only one who can't see him through the crowd.
As the reindeer prance, one bell comes loose and lands at his feet, silent to his ears only. He picks it up and shakes it. Nothing. He looks at it, closes his eyes and says, "I believe," several times until he himself believes what he is saying. He slowly brings the bell close to his ear and gently shakes it. Jingling-ling!
To his own amazement, as he is lost in his discovery, he hears a deep, loving voice speak to him from behind, "What did you say?"
Needless to say, he receives the first gift of Christmas: the silver sleigh bell. And the whole adventure happened while the clock showed 5 till midnight, never advancing until he came home. As he grows up, his friends eventually lose the ability to hear the bell, even his little sister. But he does not; even at an old age, he can still hear the bell ring.
What an amazing reminder of our love for God! How fascinating the stories of old are when we are young. Even on the other hand, we despise Him out of ignorance, yet upon discovering the truth, we believe. The goose bumps, the butterflies in our stomachs, the anticipation of church, worship and prayer! Yet somehow along the way, it loses its magic, its enchantment that once held our attention so firmly.
We begin to sleep in on Sunday morning, or set aside the Bible for reading after our favorite TV show, and then another, and another, till we forget where we put it. How easy it becomes to unintentionally put our relationship with Him on the back burner.
Then, one night, as we lie in wait of a miracle, He shows up in our front yard with the Heavenly Express, and calls out to us, "All aboard!" enticing us with adventures to explore, stories to be told, relationships to be made, and lessons to be learned. All without losing a minute of time!
Just like this little boy chose to believe in the Spirit of Christmas, let us choose to continue to believe in the miraculous power of God's love for us. He gave the ultimate sacrifice so that you and I could have an intimate relationship with Him for eternity. A relationship filled with excitement, danger, safety, and love, and so much more!
How great our God is! I have chosen to serve Him with my whole life...do you?
27 December 2005
15 December 2005
no time was lost
People often wonder why things happen in life the way they do. They hope for the best, but only slightly better happens; or great things happen for them and they feel they don't deserve it. I often wonder these very things.
"I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) He tells this to His people in the midst of life's struggles. It's the same with parents: they have the best plans for their children and know they will one day get there, but things happen along the way--unexpected things--and they think that all is lost. The Lord does not see it this way.
He allows us to make our own choices. These choices lead to different ways of getting to where we need to be. And where is that exactly? Good question. For me, it's being involved in ministry, serving people (including my family), knowing I am making a difference in someone else's life. For you, it may be different. But all the same, we belong in the plan that He has for us.
In The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, I believe C.S. Lewis is trying to communicate this very thing. In the end, Aslan sacrifices his life and does whatever it takes so that all 4 children may take their rightful place on the throne. They reign and then the most astonishing thing happens: they are lead back to the wardrobe, of which they had long forgotten, and are sent back to the moment they left the wardrobe. No time was lost.
It is the same when we spend time with God, building a relationship with Him, growing at phenomenal rates, however, never losing a moment of time. Often, we forget where we came from. But it is important to go back to when we first opened the wardrobe door, to when we first experienced His presence, and found ourselves in an exciting land filled with awe and wonder. Those moments are the most precious and must never be forgotten. They must be revisited, for it is those moments that intrigued us that will intrigue others, bringing them to a place where they may experience it for themselves.
"I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) He tells this to His people in the midst of life's struggles. It's the same with parents: they have the best plans for their children and know they will one day get there, but things happen along the way--unexpected things--and they think that all is lost. The Lord does not see it this way.
He allows us to make our own choices. These choices lead to different ways of getting to where we need to be. And where is that exactly? Good question. For me, it's being involved in ministry, serving people (including my family), knowing I am making a difference in someone else's life. For you, it may be different. But all the same, we belong in the plan that He has for us.
In The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, I believe C.S. Lewis is trying to communicate this very thing. In the end, Aslan sacrifices his life and does whatever it takes so that all 4 children may take their rightful place on the throne. They reign and then the most astonishing thing happens: they are lead back to the wardrobe, of which they had long forgotten, and are sent back to the moment they left the wardrobe. No time was lost.
It is the same when we spend time with God, building a relationship with Him, growing at phenomenal rates, however, never losing a moment of time. Often, we forget where we came from. But it is important to go back to when we first opened the wardrobe door, to when we first experienced His presence, and found ourselves in an exciting land filled with awe and wonder. Those moments are the most precious and must never be forgotten. They must be revisited, for it is those moments that intrigued us that will intrigue others, bringing them to a place where they may experience it for themselves.
06 December 2005
the door
In preparation for--and anticipation of--the upcoming film, my family has been reading The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. It is really a fascinating story about 4 children who live in a huge house in England with a Professor. I won't write much about the story 'cause 1) I don't like to ruin the ending, and 2) I haven't finished it yet.
I will mention something that has jumped out at me, though. In the first few chapters, Lewis consistently reiterates the fact that sensible people would never be so foolish as to completely close the wardrobe door so as not to be trapped inside. This particular wardrobe is a doorway to whole other world: Narnia. If the door is open, it is rather easy to find one's way back to "reality"; however, if the door is closed, it is quite challenging to return.
I can't help but to follow the parallel this story has with Christianity. How can we experience the awe and wonder of the spiritual side of our lives and never return to "reality" in order to share such an awesome experience with others.
The Narnia in our lives is a place of beauty not free from trials and our experience there can help us overcome obstacles in the real world. And it's not just the experience we obtain, but the thought of knowing that a place exists where we can escape to and not waste a minute of real time.
That is what we have with the Lord. He is a place of refuge we can run to; He's our friend and the lover of our souls. No one understands us the way He does and the experiences we share with Him can be shared with others. So, when you spend time with Him, be sensible; don't be foolish and close the door.
I will mention something that has jumped out at me, though. In the first few chapters, Lewis consistently reiterates the fact that sensible people would never be so foolish as to completely close the wardrobe door so as not to be trapped inside. This particular wardrobe is a doorway to whole other world: Narnia. If the door is open, it is rather easy to find one's way back to "reality"; however, if the door is closed, it is quite challenging to return.
I can't help but to follow the parallel this story has with Christianity. How can we experience the awe and wonder of the spiritual side of our lives and never return to "reality" in order to share such an awesome experience with others.
The Narnia in our lives is a place of beauty not free from trials and our experience there can help us overcome obstacles in the real world. And it's not just the experience we obtain, but the thought of knowing that a place exists where we can escape to and not waste a minute of real time.
That is what we have with the Lord. He is a place of refuge we can run to; He's our friend and the lover of our souls. No one understands us the way He does and the experiences we share with Him can be shared with others. So, when you spend time with Him, be sensible; don't be foolish and close the door.
30 November 2005
another candle
5 years ago today, my life changed drastically. My son was born. My how time flies! I can't believe he turns five today. And he's so brilliant! I know what you're thinking: All mothers say that about their children. But it's true. He remembers everything and he learns so fast. It's hard to keep up with him.
So, there we were at Wal-Mart, buying stuff for his party on the cake aisle. I was looking at the candles, trying to decide if we should use the "5" digit candle or 5 individual candles. I asked him what he thought as I held up the box of candles versus the "5". You could see the gears grinding in his little mind as he thought about this important decision.
"How many candles are in the box?" he asked.
"10," I replied.
He thought some more and then said, "If I use the 10 candles, will I be 10 and not 5?" My husband and I looked at each other and laughed.
Wouldn't it be great if the number of candles on the cake actually meant we were that age? One year we'd be 29, then the next 29, and the next 29. Or we could subract years, too.
Another candle on the cake isn't that bad. At least it's only one at a time!
So, there we were at Wal-Mart, buying stuff for his party on the cake aisle. I was looking at the candles, trying to decide if we should use the "5" digit candle or 5 individual candles. I asked him what he thought as I held up the box of candles versus the "5". You could see the gears grinding in his little mind as he thought about this important decision.
"How many candles are in the box?" he asked.
"10," I replied.
He thought some more and then said, "If I use the 10 candles, will I be 10 and not 5?" My husband and I looked at each other and laughed.
Wouldn't it be great if the number of candles on the cake actually meant we were that age? One year we'd be 29, then the next 29, and the next 29. Or we could subract years, too.
Another candle on the cake isn't that bad. At least it's only one at a time!
28 November 2005
bugles
I began this year with a drastic change: I enlisted in the military. Having spent several weeks in "bootcamp" and several months in tech school, I find myself this early morning in a tower in a state where I have never been. At 0600, I heard the famous tune from a bugle over the speakers: tu tun da dun tu da dun ta tun...I nearly jumped from my chair and began the ritual of getting dressed--something I haven't done in months!
It's amazing how something stays with you for so long, even when you don't realize it. Kinda like God's word. You read it, memorize it, meditate on it and move on to the next scripture. Down the road, life happens. Up springs a well of scripture you thought you had forgotten. You may not be able to quote it word for word or the address but you know it.
"Put the word in ya when you don't need it so it will be there when you do." That's what a great teacher always said. I'm glad I was there to listen.
It's amazing how something stays with you for so long, even when you don't realize it. Kinda like God's word. You read it, memorize it, meditate on it and move on to the next scripture. Down the road, life happens. Up springs a well of scripture you thought you had forgotten. You may not be able to quote it word for word or the address but you know it.
"Put the word in ya when you don't need it so it will be there when you do." That's what a great teacher always said. I'm glad I was there to listen.
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