After 7 years of college and graduate school, and reading what professors told me to, the first post-graduate reading I did was the series of 7 books by C. S. Lewis called The Chronicles of Narnia. If you have never read them, you should do so. Three or four of the books have been made into movies. Even though they are touted as children’s books, there are such deep truths in them that any adult would grow forward in life and faith by reading them. (They’re also light and fun.)
In the sixth book called “The Magician’s Nephew,” I came to a sentence that rocked my world …
The children in the story were asking Aslan the Lion (the Christ-figure in this series of books), why their Uncle Andrew was such a grouch. How did he get to be that way? And Aslan gave a strange but profound answer …
“Oh, sons of Adam and daughters of Eve, how cleverly you defend yourselves against all that might do you good.”
I was stunned enough by that sentence that I suspended reading the book for a few days while I thought about that. Do I have creative excuses for not doing the things that would really be of benefit to me?
When is the last time you should have gone to some event with a friend but instead said, “No thanks, I’m too tired (or too busy).”? What are the things you have skipped out on that would really have done you great good?
Now, I’m not suggesting you wear yourself out and fail to take needed rest or to keep proper boundaries. Nor do I propose that you say “yes” to every invitation that comes along. But looking back over the last year or two or five of your life … what if the good invitations or ideas you declined added up to 148, and the ones you accepted came to just 15? Then this may not be about getting your rest … it might be about “cleverly defending yourself against all that might do you good.”
Blessings,
Chaplain Mark
Received Via Email: Oh wow, that’s a beautiful way to look at our journey as Christians. I have never thought of it like that.
I read the whole set out loud to my toddler over the course of several months during our basement play time at the request of my husband. I never told him that I knew I was reading it more for him than the baby. 🙂
I haven’t seen the movies, I’m afraid they’ll tarnish my mind’s view of how things happened in the books. Amy
Received Via Email: Great food for thought. I too will have to think on this. It is definitely much easier to isolate ourselves than to be out there forging relationships that may disappoint or leave us feeling happy. If “I” don’t venture out, I’ll never know. Sandra
Received Via Email: How pertinent this was to me today. My husband and I had our 9-year old granddaughter with us this past week and as we traveled … we listened to the Magician’s Nephew and the Horse and His boy (Audio Dramas which were produced by Focus on the Family). That statement by Aslan got my husband’s and my attention as we both looked at each other when we heard it. These stories are profound. If you haven’t heard the audio drama, I would highly recommend. Focus on the Family did a masterful job. The voice actors are exceptional.
When our granddaughter left us she asked, “Can we listen to the next Narnia story when I come back?” These recordings caused her to put down her iPad and simply listen!
Blessings,
Vicki
Received Via Email … Good devotion today. Short and it makes a good point. I like that. Count me in. Braxton ><>
Thanks, David. Send others the website link … todayswordis.org
Hi Bobbie … Hope you and David are doing well. Brought together by trucking and radio. Such good friends I have from the radio days.
Love that your doing this Mark. Going to have to learn how to share these.
Thank you and God Bless.
Very profound indeed.
Am at a place in my reading I am looking for a good series to start at this time. Have read several books by C. S. Lewis. Saw the Narnia movies, enjoyed them immensely, but never actually read the series of books. Good time to start. Thank-you for your insight. God Bless.