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Practical Narnia
How Lamp-Posts Teach Us To Live
Narnia Isn't For Everyone
The Pevensies stayed at the museum-like house of Professor Digory Kirke. In the book and the BBC film, the kids liked, at first sight, the Professor but not his caretaker, Mrs. Macready. Both were old people, but what a striking contrast in personality! In the BBC adaption, Digory "pretended" to be soldiers with the children as he welcomed them upon their arrival. He disagreed with Susan and Peter when they thought Lucy was hallucinating about a land beyond the wardrobe. There was a child's heart in Digory. There was cheerfulness, childlike purity and a great sense of wonder that Professor Kirke carried with him. Sadly, we see that Mrs. Macready will never enter Narnia. She sternfully warned the children not to roam around the house if she had visitors, not to touch the artifacts, and never disturb the professor. Again in the BBC version, Macready rudely refers to the house helpers as "servants." As the latter carried away the bags of the Pevensies, she remarks that "That is their function... one must not deprive people of their function because everyone has a part to play." To Macready, "ranks" are far more important than the value of a human being. She didn't have the heart of a child.
The Shrine in Narnia
The land of Narnia had a very important shrine. Nope, it is neither the Stone Table nor the Castle of Cair Paravel. It is the first landmark that you will see when you step into the wardrobe. Yes, it is the lamp-post! It is the main reference point between the world outside of Narnia and inside Narnia. One will never get lost in Narnia if he or she sees the lamp-post. The lamp-post in Narnia is strange because it never loses its light. It is a symbol of vision and illumination. It is a constant reminder to the children of their families and their duties in the real world; lest they forget, now that they have become kings and queens. In the same breath, when we learn important lessons or receive blessings that enrich our souls the danger is for us to be content and to begin creating "comfy little worlds," only for our own benefit. We need to return and share to others what we have learned and received from the "good world."
Edmund the Just
The characters in "The Chronicles of Narnia," most especially the four Pevensies show the depth of how C.S. Lewis understood human nature. We see this clearly in the transformation that Edmund underwent when he realized the folly of his ways. Many of us are like Edmunds, but what is most important is what we become after erring. Will an aberration remain a mistake or will it become an education? For Edmund, his blunders became the greatest education of his life and that is why he was eventually called King Edmund the Just. Ironic, isn't it? Yet, his story was the most heart-piercing for children as well as adults. The person who went through the most pain became the most just - for "whoever has been forgiven much, loves much."
Path of No Return?
Professor Kirke told the kids that they cannot go back to Narnia by the same path. One cannot learn the same lesson again; one already has to apply it in one's own journey. Reading or watching "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" is like a journey that teaches us to see beyond the "wardrobe" of our lives, to find our own Narnia and to remember the lamp-post of reality and responsibility. Unfortunately, there is no map of the path going to Narnia, nevertheless, we have the guidance of what an old Frenchman once said: "What we see is what we carry in our hearts."
-UNBOUND vol.1 issue.1-
i don't think it bothers the world that we sin. i think it bothers the world that we act like we don't. there are times that instead of being myself and exposing my own weakness and hurt, i portray a character of the person that i know i should be. but when i expose myself as weak and frail at times, it frees the Body of Christ to restore me as it should and invites others to unmask as well.
STAINED GLASS MASQUERADE
is there anyone that fails? is there anyone that falls? am i the only one in church today feeling so small? cause when i take a look around everybody seems so strong. i know they'll soon discover that i don't belong. so i tuck it all away, like everything's ok. if i make them all believe it, maybe i'll believe it too. so with a painted grin, i play the part again that everyone will see me the way that i see them. is there anyone who's been there? are there any hands to raise? am i the only one who's traded in the altar for a stage? the performance is convincing, and we know every line by heart. only when no one is watching can we really fall apart.
are we happy plastic people? under shiny plastic steeples? with walls around our weakness and smiles to hide our pain. but when the invitation is open to every heart that has been broken. maybe then we close the curtain on our stained glass masquerade.
praise you in this storm
i was sure by now that you would have reached down and wiped my tears away, stepped in and saved the day. but once again, i say "amen", and it's still raining.
as the thunder rolls i barely hear you whisper through the rain "i'm with you". and as your mercy falls, i raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away.
i remember when i stumbled in the wind, you heard my cry and you raised me up again. my strength is almost gone, how can i carry on if i can't find you?
i"ll praise you in this storm and i will lift my hands, for you are who you are no matter where i am. every tear i've cried, you hold in your hand. you never left my side and though my heart is torn, i will praise you in this storm.
on my way to You
almost there, almost where i'm supposed to be. it's not all clear still You keep showing me. with every step, the more my heart moves to Your beat. just like where i'm headed, there's joy in the journey. create in me, a pure heart and make me new.. less of me, more of You. here i stand, still i'm drawn down to my knees.... it's not my strenght but Yours that carries me. teach me to think like You think. show me the things that are true. finish the work You have started in me. as i'm on my way to You...
i am nothing
i could travel over oceans, cross the deserts, climb the mountains just to share your story, bring you glory, and win souls for you. i could sing like an angel, songs so humble and so thankful, full of drama and emotion so the world will know your truth. i could give away my money, my clothes, and my food to restore those people who are poor ,and lost, and down-and-out. i could succeed at all these things, find favor with peasants and kings. but if i do not love, i am nothing.
i could live a flawless life, never cheat or steal or lie, and always speak so kindly, smile warmly, and go about doing good. i could dedicate myself to do what everyone else wants me to- listen to them, compliment them, say the things that i should. i could show up every sunday, lead the choir, and bible study and they all might come to know me as a leader and a friend. i could achieve success on earth, but success cannot define my worth. and all these actions, all these words, will not matter in the end.
songs will fade to silence. stories, they will cease. the dust will settle covering all my selfless deeds. so as i try to serve you, won't you make it clear to me that if i do not love, i am nothing.
wanna be moved...
the road is winding, narrow, and steep and i can't keep walking with frozen feet. my spirit is not willing, my heart is as cold as ice, thaw out my convictions 'coz the passion's left my life.
i wanna be a rebel with a cause, stand against the aggressor and hold up my cross. You have a mission for me, a reason why i'm here..
i don't wanna be a flame, i wanna be a raging fire! i'm tired of my will, my way, Your calling's higher. i know it's time i stopped running from the truth, so i stand here still, until i'm filled. i wanna be moved, i wanna be moved by You
To all of us come that special moment in life when we are literally tapped on the shoulder to do a very special thing unique to ourselves and our talent. What a pity if that moment finds us unprepared. -Winston Churchil
A Place Called HOME
who would've thought? after one year of fighting to stay in the philippines, after one year of telling myself that my life is in the philippines and not in america, and after loving my own country... i find myself thrown in america. what will i do here? i'm surrounded by a different race, by people that will take me months to connect with, by a totally different culture. it's all so.......... new.
but it feels pretty good! i'm excited. i'm facing a new challenge, heck i'm facing a greater challenge! so what am i going to do? i'm gonna burn my bridges, stop looking back and just focus ahead. my life coach told me, "kalimutan mo na muna kami dito sa pilipinas." he also told me to show the world that there are still world-class filipinos. and lastly, he told me to love america. and i'm going to love america more than the americans love their country. for this is my new home, this is where i'm going to serve, this is where i'm being called.
pull the shades down on the sun
i don't want to see the morning break to another day
i don't have the strength to face it
close the door and keep it shut
Lord the sake is just too much for me to take
how do i begin to pray?
my way back to some kind of peace of mind
but then i hear love whispering in the darkest of times
"you'll get through this, you'll break new ground
when you're lost within your weakness
hope is waiting to be found
you'll get through this, no matter what it takes
i believe in you for Heaven's sake.. you'll get through this."
when doubt starts staring at the faith deepened
i won't be afraid
i'll just remember what You said
"nothing formed against you will succeed
as long as your heart's turned to Me."
if You want me to...
the pathway is broken, and the signs are unclear, and i don't know the reason why you brought me here. but just because you love me the way that you do, i'm gonna go through the valley if you want me to. 'cause i'm not who i was when i took my first step, and i'm clinging to the promise you're not through with me yet. so if all of these trials bring me closer to you, then i will go through the fire if you want me to. it may not be the way i would have chosen when you lead me through a world that's not my own. but you never said it would be easy, you only said that i'd never go alone.
so when the whole world turns against me, and i'm all by myself, and you can't seem to answer my cries for help. i'll remember the suffering your love put you through, then i will go through the fire if you want me to
