The Catbird Seat

Paul posted his thoughts here…I thought I’d do the same.

We decided we’d watch The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe movie tonight, and mutually concluded that the best place to start would be where Santa returns to Narnia.

It wasn’t long before I was completely enthralled, though I’ve seen it many times before.

Three scenes struck me as noteworthy.

Though not in chronological order…

First: Very near the end, after the coronation ceremony of Lucy (the valiant), Edmund (the just), Susan (the gentle) and Peter (the magnificent), Tumnus and Lucy watch as Aslan silently walks away from them, across the beach, and soon out of sight.

Tumnus: “He’s not a tame lion, you know.”

Lucy: “No. But he is good.“

And I was again reminded of the amazing words of Beth Moore, who, in her Believing God Bible Study said, “You cannot tame the Lion of Judah.”

[me=speechless in awe and fear]

Second: After a lengthy and private conversation between the White Witch and Aslan, the White Witch emerges triumphant from the tent of meeting. Later we discover that the terms in which Edmund is released from her debt requires the sacrificial death of Aslan himself.

Smug and contemptuous, standing defiantly in her chariot, she challenges Aslan with this question:

White Witch: “How do I know that you will honor your promise?”

Aslan: no response, save a full roar that immediately seats the White Witch in fear.

[cheers from the citizens of Narnia]

My only thought was, “How dare I question the faithfulness of God, when it is so central to His character?”

[me=speechless at my resemblance to the dreaded White Witch, and her desire to usurp the authority of Aslan (Christ) in Narnia (my heart/my world)]

And finally…
Third: As Aslan lay dying on the Stone Tablet, having paid for Edmund’s betrayal through his own innocent blood, (and I anxiously awaited the part in the movie where Aslan returns, resurrected, and in his full glory) I realized something.

And as I have no internal filter, really, I said out loud,

“You can’t have Christmas without Easter, can you?”

Paul assented with a hearty, closed-eyed “Mm.”

So, on this Christmas Eve, I am faced again with the Beauty, Majesty, and Fearsome quality of God that on Christmas, we call, “Emmanuel” (meaning, God With Us.)

And to that, I say only this:

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Filed under: General, Catbird, Like a fire, Random Thoughts on December 25th, 2006