There’s a part in the Narnia series I think about sometimes. I always find it encouraging, but especially when things are difficult. From The Magician’s Nephew, it the part just after Aslan creates everything. Digory is a kid who’s mother back home is sick and dying. And of course, Aslan is Narnia’s representation of Christ:
But when he had said “Yes”, he thought of his Mother, and he thought of the great hopes he had had, and how they were all dying away, and a lump came in his throat and tears in his eyes, and he blurted out:
“But please, please – won’t you – can’t you give me something that will cure Mother?” Up till then he had been looking at the Lion’s great feet and the huge claws on them; now in his despair, he looked up at it’s face. What he saw surprised him as much as anything in his whole life. For the tawny face was bent down near his own and (wonder of wonders) great shining tears stood in the Lions eyes. They were such big, bright tears compared with Digory’s own that for a moment he felt as if the Lion must really be sorrier about his Mother than he was himself.
“My son, my son,” said Aslan, “I know. Grief is great. Only you and I know that in this land yet. Let us be good to one another.”
I always love C.S. Lewis’ work. Genius. It might sound pathetic, but I honestly find it difficult not to cry whenever I read this part.
It reminds of a couple things. First, I remember that when things are difficult and even when the worst seems inevitable… I’m not alone. Not only is He is there with me; but He understand the struggle even more than I do, and feels it along with me.
The second it reminds of is that we don’t always get the answers or solutions we’re looking for. Or sometimes not right away. After this bit, Aslan encourages Digory with a Lion’s kiss, and sends him on a task that takes most of the rest of the book to complete. That whole time, Digory never got the answer he was looking for; he didn’t have an answer at all. But he did what he was asked to do. Personally, I find it difficult to do. Just blindly going forward not knowing what will happen or how to do what’s asked? But Digory… he carried on. At that point, all he had was Aslan’s encouragement. Digory just knew he had to do it. And he did.
To me, the two things go hand in hand. God is always with us and knows what we deal with better than we do. But he also wants us to trust Him. The encouragement is welcome. The trusting.. I know I don’t have it. I’m working on it. I’m trying.
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Dan Rapoza, a brother in the Brotherhood
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