Tag: Religion

Posted in Book Review, Books, Religion

My Trip(s) to Narnia

Posted on by Melissa

Back in December I began reading The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. I finally finished the last book in the series on May 20. In a different world it would not have taken me that long. But two jobs and 5 week long courses of study to continue as a local pastor keep me busy and diminish the time I have to read purely for my discretionary pleasure. Following is some commentary regarding my travels to the land of Narnia:

  • A part of me is ashamed that it took me into my mid-50s to read these books. They should have been marked off my To Be Read list way earlier in life. That is a purely personal matter to me and no one should think I am judging whether or not you have read the books at whatever age you are. However, if you have been considering reading them, I suggest that you do so.
  • Despite the personal shame I am placing on myself, there is a voice within me that is trying to convince me that I encountered these books at the time in my life I was supposed to read them. The allegorical Christian themes that were woven throughout the novels impacted my faith and my theological thinking in a way that it would probably would not have earlier in my life. These books intersected my life journey at a very opportune time.
  • I wish that I had the time to go back and do a close reading of each book with a marker in hand to highlight, take notes, and write a true review and/or essay on each one. Especially, to share more in depth how the books impacted me theologically. Alas, that opportunity is not one that is open to me with my life journey at this time. Until then, here are a few quick examples.
    • In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: The death and return to life of Aslan shed a new light and perspective on the Easter story. Not that it changed the essentials, but it helped me see and experience it with new and fresh eyes.
    • In The Horse and His Boy: There is a part of Shasta’s (the boy’s) adventure that renewed and reminded me of how God walks along beside us and protects us from danger even when we can’t see the danger or even see or know that the protective presence is God himself.
    • In The Last Battle: The way that the end of Narnia reflects a theological understanding of the new heaven and earth also breathed a new sense of hope and faith in my eschatological beliefs. It brought a new perspective on how to view on the final culmination of God’s kingdom here on earth being joined with the kingdom of heaven.

I could say more if time would allow it. And maybe someday the time will be there to do so. Until then, I will have to leave it at that. For now, I’m looking forward to delving into and finishing the Signature Classics volume by Lewis that I have on my shelf that includes:

  • Mere Christianity (which I have already read)
  • The Screwtape Letters (also already read)
  • Miracles
  • The Great Divorce
  • The Problem of Pain
  • A Grief Observed
  • The Abolition of Man (this is the one I’m looking forward to the most at this time)
  • The Four Loves

Posted in Sunday Reflections

A VBS Lesson

Posted on by Melissa

I am writing this on a Sunday morning. Yesterday, we had the first day of a 2-day weekend Vacation Bible School at my church. I’ll be honest, I was very discouraged and downcast the week prior to and even up to the point at 12:00 when we officially began. Despite sending personal invitations in the mail to prior attendees, putting up flyers in the area, inviting people via our Facebook page, and several other ways of getting out the message I had only heard back of maybe 3 to 5 children possibly showing up. And when we did start, we only had 4 children in attendance. I had several encouraging voices around me of other adults reminding me that that numbers aren’t important, that it is always worth it even if you impact the life of one child. I was doing my best to hold on to that advice; yet, it was hard. I was also doing my best to not let my disappointment and discouragement show to the children who were there. I was being as upbeat and positive as I could on the outside, even while not feeling it on the inside.

By the time I got home last night, I was in a much better frame of mind and mood. Though the crowd was small, we had a wonderful afternoon. It was great watching the kids (and joining in with them) have a day filled with laughter, fun, tasty meals, fellowship with each other and, yes, some moments of learning about how God loves us and wants us to share that love with others.

Additionally, as God tends to do, he showed up in an unexpected way and taught Me a lesson in the midst of me teaching the children. We were discussing Matthew 3:13-17 which is the account of Jesus being baptized by John in the Jordan River. We were talking about what happened after Jesus was baptized, about how heaven was opened, a dove descended, and voice from heaven declared, “This is my Son whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him.”

It was at that point that one of the children, a very soon-to-be 6 year old, asked a question. He wanted to know if the people that were there watching this baptism heard this voice with their ears or did they just hear God speak to them in their hearts? I want you to read that question again. It is a very profound question for someone of such an age. I started looking around the room for the Pastor because I was going to pass that question off to him. Unfortunately for me, it was one of the rare times he had chosen to step out of the room. So I gave my best answer. First, I told the child that was a great question to even ask in the first place. Second, I told him that the Bible doesn’t say for sure but that for me personally when I read that passage I have always taken it to mean they heard an actual voice with their ears. Later, when the pastor came back in the room we went to him for his answer to the question. His answer was basically the same – we can’t know for an absolute certainty. It could have been either way. He also was impressed at the depth of this child’s question and told him so. Ultimately, the point is that the people there heard and received the message from God, whether or not it was received audibly or through their hearts being attuned to God.

While the question itself was important, in this situation for me the actual answer to the question is not the main lesson here. The lessons to be found are within the asking of the question by this six-year-old. Following, are my take-aways from this situation.

First, the fact he asked the question showed he was not only listening to the story, but he was in fact engaged in active listening. He wasn’t just hearing what was happening. He was actively placing himself in the story. He was trying to imaging himself there with the people and wondering how they felt at the time and how they experienced the event. That is the approach we all should take when we are studying events of the Bible. Putting ourselves within the story helps us open ourselves up to what is being taught and prepares us to learn what God is trying to tell us and teach us.

Second, I was impressed and heartened to know that this young child at this young age has already grasped the concept that God can indeed speak to our hearts individually. He is already aware that God does reach out to us and does talk to us, whether we hear with our ears or not. It is vitally important for us to know that God can lead, guide, and direct us by speaking directly to our hearts. Hearing that still, small voice within us is important to both our personal spiritual development as well as how we are led to interact and engage with others.

Third, by asking the question that he asked, he showed that in his mind there are no limits to what God can do. Just because this six-year-old has never heard God speak out loud to to the point he can hear him with his ears, he has not ruled out the possibility that God has the ability to, in fact, do just that very thing. How many times as adults do we, either consciously or unconsciously, put such limitations on how God can act or move within our lives? I know I am guilty of this! Just because we have yet to see God move or act in some specific manner previously in our lives does not limit God’s capabilities to do so.

Yes, as adults there are some childish ways we have to put aside to become mature. However, we are also called to have a childlike faith in regards to the kingdom of God. See Matthew 18:1-4. Today I encourage you to be an active listener when being taught or reading lessons in the Bible, know and trust that God can and will speak directly to your hearts, and don’t put limitations on how God can and move within your life just because you haven’t seen it done that way before.