illustrated lessons

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?