Throughout my life I have probably read through the Chronicles of Narnia about 20 times. There are some interesting things about the books that make them somewhat unique as a series of children’s fairy tales.

The first curious thing about the Narnia books is that while fairy tales directed at children, they are also Christian allegories with deeper spiritual meaning interwoven. This applied to my life in that I loved reading about Narnia as an 8-year-old schoolboy because of the fantastic stories of knights, dragons, talking animals, sea voyages, and other adventurous things that 8-year-old boys are interested in.

However as an adult, the books take on new meaning as the stories essentially force me to face and deal with powerful truths about myself, this world, and Christ.

The second curious thing about Narnia is that every time I read these books, I discover some new radical truth or uncover a new perspective on the world that is earth-shattering to my core being. That is quite unique for a children’s book!

I am now yet again finishing up the final book in the series, The Last Battle, and am once again discovering something new. To be honest, this has always been my least favorite book. Not because it is poorly written or anything like that. I have a hard time reading this book because everything wrong that could possibly happen, does happen. There are very few happy moments while reading this book.

I get the most disgust and unease during this book as several evil characters use a donkey in a lion skin to impersonate the Christ-figure of the Narnian world, Aslan. These characters use this “Aslan” to put words into the real Aslan’s mouth for their own selfish gain and the suffering of others. As a result, many of the talking animals, dwarves, and other mythical creatures begin to fear Aslan for his injustice or disbelieve him altogether.

When I read this story again, I finally realized the parallel to our world, where there are many that fabricate their own version of Jesus, attributing words and actions to him that simply do not belong. The real Jesus is not a socially-conservative Republican, nor is he a compassionate and environmentally-savvy Democrat. He is not so small that he fits in our little boxes. Many groups lay claim to their own version of Jesus, styling him after themselves rather than how he reveals himself as the Word of God, the suffering servant who came to befriend and reconcile outcasts and sinners to God. These groups with their fake Jesus’s in the end only turn people away from the real Jesus, as many Narnians turned away from Aslan.

When we try to put Jesus on our team, it is as ill-fitted as the lion skin on the jackass. As Christians, we must not try to get Jesus on our team. It is the Christians who must first get on the team of Jesus.

Let me leave you with a chunk of text from a chapter called “A Can of Worms” about Mr. Sedaris sitting in a burger place called the Apple Pan in LA with his partner and another friend. Mr. Sedaris was listening to a conversation next to him about the can of nematodes discovered on the Texas plains that had survived the explosion of the space shuttle that was intended to bring them into space. Mr. Sedaris, having been told you are supposed to eat the pie backwards (ending with the tip) and make a wish on it ponders what he would wish:

… I stayed out of it, thinking of what might have been had I not wasted my wish. A laboratory filled with sensitive equipment. Men in white coats, trembling with hope and wonder as they lean forward, catching the sound of one small voice. ‘Come to think of it,’ the worm says, ‘I do remember seeing something suspicious.’”

(p. 210)

I can’t do the book justice, but there you go. A peek into Mr. Sedaris’ writings. You should really read the book. Robb, having read Me Talk Pretty One Day (another Sedaris’ book that Cathy loaned him for his trip) informed me that Sedaris reminds him a lot of me: his way of thinking, etc. I think that is a compliment, but I can only hope so be as witty as Mr. Sedaris. Oimoi…

Other news. Today is Robb’s birthday. He spent the day in Cambridge visiting historic sites and treated himself to a pint of cider at The Eagle Pub (formerly known as the Eagle and the Child) where Francis Crick and James Watson “discovered the secret of life” notably the structure of the DNA helix. They also visited Trinity College and saw an apple tree which descended from Sir Isaac Newton’s apple planted on the campus. Robb also enjoys stained glass, so their trip to King’s College made for a great treat. Hopefully he writes about it because he was really excited about its beauty, history and theology.

Also. Robb bought me 4 oz. of Earl Grey tea. He said that I will really enjoy it. Mmm I have the bestest friend.

I miss him.

Did you ever question the meaning of Gatsby’s green light?

And write an essay on the American Dream?

If you went to Redmond High School, you undoubtedly preformed in a Great Gatsby play your junior year. Ah, those were the days. (I was Jo, and I think we acted out the first eight chapters or so…)

Well, a few weeks ago, Robb and I were in Half Price Books, the local hang out for cool people on a Saturday night (pretty much the only place open at home after 9 pm). And I saw a flier for the Seattle Repertory Theater’s upcoming performance of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Needless to say, I decided that it was crutial that I see this play after reading it copious amounts of time through high school and perhaps even earlier!

Additionally, this performance of the The Great Gatsby is great for students, or at least people under 25 years. Tickets are $10 anywhere in the theater! (Robb and I snagged some seats in row D for the second to last showing!) Just remember your photo ID when you arrive at the theater.

I am pretty stoked because I will be graduated in a month! Yes, there are a lot of things that still need to be done, but through God, all things are possible, right?

Lord willing, I will be moving to the city this winter and find a good job to keep me going until graduate school starts. This is also fantastic: no longer am I going to apply to eighty-billion schools (rather, 7), I have cut it back by two and my stress level has dropped significantly!

Furthermore, I finally put FireFox on my computer so now I can properly edit my posts in WordPress. Huzzah! I think that is all for now! Have a great 11/11 (yes, it is National Hug an Eliz H. Day!)

For those unfamiliar with Don Miller’s writing style, he is an amazing communicator who writes out conversations and stories from his life, interspersing random thoughts and rabbit trails, creating books that are both incredibly entertaining and deeply meaningful.

To Own a Dragon tells the story of Don growing up without a father and the conversations he has with co-author John MacMurray as they tries to figure out life and God for a young man for whom the concept of being fathered is as strange as owning a pet dragon.

According to the numbers, 85% of youths in prison come from fatherless homes, and Don has the heart to help those young men both through his book and through the Belmont Foundation.

Whether or not one grew up without a father, this book will largely appeal to many. Don’s stories are funny and the lessons about being fathered by the good and perfect God are important for everyone to learn.

Firstly, I got so many lives in Super Mario Bros. that my life count was measured in gold crowns and blue squares.

Secondly, I fixed a major hole in my pants with duct tape. Before, you could clearly see my underwear.

Thirdly, I got Donald Miller’s new book, To Own a Dragon. I listened to Don read the first chapter of it at a reading in Seattle last fall. I’m looking forward to it big time.

Fourthly, I received the very wonderful news that I am graduating next quarter! Yes, that is correct. I receive my diploma in June.

I don’t think I cried as much the last time I read the series. But this time I identified so much more with specific instances in the character’s lives. I joined them in their sorrows and excitements. This time I grew more attached to the characters. For that I am happy. I love being fully immersed in a book.

Yet, this time, I was taken with the Bear’s character. Yes, some may say he was a bit dense, but I think he was such a truthful character. He did not understand evil. He did not understand the ways of The World (or “Narnia”). (At the same time, he didn’t fully understand what had happened to him after he died and went to his true home — Aslan’s home). Ah, but I identify with this character. I feel so clueless and confused by the ways of the world. I know that I am still quite a child in the ways of both the world and in God’s eyes. There is much to learn. And every time I do learn something, I feel there is even more to learn and thus I feel even further behind in the scheme of things. [I have no idea if this makes sense to you, but to me it does… perhaps that is my fault, I’m sorry. You can talk to me and I can try to clarify this.]

Perhaps my favourite part of the Bear was after he went through the stable door:

The Bear was just going to mutter that he still didn’t understand, when he caught sight of the fruit trees behind them. He waddled to those trees as fast as he could and there, no doubt, found something he understood very well.

Oh, yes. Sometimes the only thing I understand is food. Oh bother. To me, it makes perfect sense. I don’t understand murders. I don’t understand hatred. I don’t understand politics. I don’t understand so much… but food: I understand.

We have all been given gifts by grace, yet I wonder what is my gift? Am I just a keen bread maker? What is my gift? It shouldn’t be something I ponder, I reckon, but how do I hone it if I don’t know what it is? Am I baking bread in vain? Sigh.

On another, but similar note. I have a plan. Over the Christmas Holiday, I bought a copy of Julie & Julia, and while it appears to be a grand idea (cooking through every recipe in Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking) I am not greatly thrilled with the book. But she has given me an idea. I will apply her plan of cooking Juila Child’s recipes to baking through Carol Tennant’s Knead. I have already begun with three of the copious amounts of recipes. 1. Cinnamon (minus) Raisin, Bread, 2. Basic Whole Wheat Loaf, and 3. Rosemary Foccia. Today I am making Malted Grain, Hazelnut, and Golden Raisin Loaf. We shall see how it turns out. I actually didn’t have any malted grain flour on hand, so I mixed unbleached bread flour with some whole wheat flour. Anyway, please give me some feedback about my plan. I’ll write more about it later.

Thanks for listening.

I want to share a favourite quote of mine from The Magician’s Nephew which I just finished early this afternoon after a tasty bite to eat (a toasted peanut butter and honey sandwich).

The new stars and the new voices began at exactly the same time. If you had seen and hear it, as Digory did, you would have felt quite certain that it was the stars themselves who were singing, and that it was the First Voice, the deep one, which had made them appear and made them sing.

“Glory be!” said the Cabby. “I’d ha’ been a better man all my life if I’d know there were things like this.” …

The eastern sky changed from white to pink and from pink to gold. The Voice rose and rose, till all the air was shaking with it. And just as it swelled to the mightiest and most glorious sound it had yet produced, the sun arose. …

The earth was of many colours: they were fresh, hot and vivid. They made you feel excited; until you saw the Singer himself, and then you forgot everything else.

Oh, I must say, the simple yet oh-so-descriptive paragraphs of the birth of Narnia are incredible. How would it be to be a witness of the first ever sunrise? (I bet the sunset was just as spectacular). How would it be to watch the stars bloom? To know the song that was sung as Aslan created the earth, the stars, the sun, everyone and everything else? I think that C.S. Lewis paints us an amazing picture from an entirely different view of Creation. I can only think of how incredibly lucky we are to live here. To enjoy the creation that God planned to the smallest detail. It is beautiful. There is so much more one can say, but to leave it as it is: simple and majestic, is perhaps giving it the respect and reverence it needs.
I also love the wind. But my love of that will be saved for another day.