Momentary Blessings

Seeing as it's almost christmas I thought this was in some way appropriate. I was at the laundrymat just last night and I saw a young woman drive up in a new station wagon. Yes, I was sitting in my car and yes I know it was only 30 degrees outside. I'm a weirdo. Anyway, the car stopped and the backdoor/trunk opened. Their was movement in the car but the light wasn't on so I couldn't see what was happening. Then a wheel chair dropped out the back and opened up followed soon after by its owner. The young woman was an amputee. I just sat and watched while she muscled her way out of the car and into the chair and then closed the door. I wondered why the driver hadn't helped her get out while I watched her roll up to the dollar store. Thinking that I should have hopped out and helped her around. Then I realized their was no driver. It had just been her. After a while she came out of the store and rolled up to the back of the car. Opened the door and slid in. Folded up the chair and pulled it into the car. She closed the door behind her and made her way to the drivers seat. The car started up and off it went.

Sitting there in the dark parking lot I felt foolish for thinking that she needed help. I also felt foolish for not trying to help before I understoood that she was ok without me, which had a confusing effect when the two were combined. When the confusion passed I felt a sense of pride for her. I was proud that she had been strong and capable enough to come out alone on a night that was to bring much bad weather simply to pick up something at the dollar store. That she was able to have a life so ordinary and yet not. That she was handed lemons at some point and made some darn fine lemonade. And that this night she puts so many to shame with her life and the descisions she made to make it work.

Year round we have choices and these choices, like it or not, shape our days to come. We can chose to sit on the couch or go paint a picture. We can chose to donate food or chose to build more of a savings for ourselves. We can learn to overcome the problems that suround us or we can submit to them. Maybe I made to much out of this womans evening adventure, but I think their's much to be said for someones example of making good choices or facing hard times without giving up. It couldn't have been easy for her. In reality it is easy for very few.

So, here's to good lemonade and those try make it. (^_^)

Narnia...

Wow, what a movie. I went to see this on Saturday and it was a packed house. I'm glad it was.

If you have been paying attention to the hollywood news you've no doubt hear about the small controversy that has followed "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrob" book. How CS Lewis was an active Christian when he wrote the childrens book and how the story contains Christian ideas and easily can be related to biblical scenes or theology. It seems, to me at least, that the only real controversy is that people who are not Christians are taken aback by the surge of Christian voices and interest in the movie. Those who read it without knowledge of the Christian under/over tones were not angry when they read it years ago, but when someone claims to see corelation between characters and terms and scenes that cling to religious organizations or practices then it is a problem.

Having seen the cartoon movie as a child I saw no relation between the scripture and the movie. Things are very different now though. Having seen the new movie I would not be able to deny that CS Lewis was heavily influenced in his writing of the book. The story has so many links to our faith that at times I was as choked up over the movie as I was watching "The Passion".

(Warning: Spoiler to follow for those who didn't read the book or see the cartoon already.)

One scene for instance that was overflowing with not-so-hidden links to scripture is the sacrifice and resurection of the mysterious King of Narnia. To save "the son of Adam" this king must sacrifice himself to the "White witch". He is blameless in his offenses and is killed on an alter in place of the boy. "The daughters of Eve" sit by his side throughout the night and when they start to leave the earth shakes, the alter is broken in two, and the body is gone. Then the 2 daughters of Eve see in the riseing sun light that he has arisen and explain a little story about why which also is full of refferences to our faith. They then move to bring life to the fallen and victory over the White witch and her evil army.

Ok, now I understand how people can look at the same thing and see it differently, but this is not the case. Like it or not the connection and interpretation of Christian biblical foundations are far too strong in this scene alone to say it's simply what I want to see and nothing more.

We have in it (Aslan) The Lion of Juda against (The white witch) Lucifer, once the most beautiful and radiant of God angels. The Witch going against a prophecy that her death and ruin was foretold in. We also have the sons of adam and the daughters of eve as obvious references, but we have them also as stewards of the land and in need of a stronger guidance and support. We have the selfless sacrifice of the lion king for mankind and the resurection and salvation he brings. We have a similairty in the breaking of the alter to the tearing of the curtain and we have in the two daughters of Eve waiting, weaping, and being at the tomb a portrait of Mary and Mary at the tomb. This is a 10-15 minute scene in a 2 hour movie.

All in all the movie is a great story and was done in amazing fashion regardless of its "hidden" story. I would recommend it.

Chess...

...is just so often an applicable metaphore for life don't you think?

"Song of a Soldier"

I am a pawn;
moving to the war song.

My enemy stands before me;
my foe is mighty and fierce.

In his eyes I see my own;
full of courage and dispair.

How have we earned this frightful moment;
not born of our own ambitions.

I shall not waver in my soul;
their is no room for leniance.

My King gives call and His soldiers surge out;
no one will stand against.

Though I will fall;
it will not be alone.

For in dead fields we do battle;
untill the King give the sign.

For I am a pawn;
swaying to my Kindom's song.

It's supposed to be a happy poem, though it doesn't read like one. (^_^) I've been dealing lately with various persons and topics which place me in a position to relate to the pawn. I would rather be a knight I think. I would rather be a Bishop or a Rook even, but those are not for me. In truth I should be happy to be a pawn for my King. Someone seen fit to be placed in a pawns shoes should be thought capable enough in His kings eyes to be there at all. So full of fear and trust we march as pawns. Being placed where the King would have us so that we could be used for His glory and victory.