Deeper Thoughts: A Horse and His Boy (part 2)

Here is my most favorite part of the entire book (A Horse and His Boy by C.S.Lewis).  For it speaks a little to the necessity of heartache.  The purpose of pain.  A small glimpse of God's character and seeing that His ways are so much higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts!

(Shasta told Aslan of his poor life and recent struggles)

"I do not call you unfortunate," said the Large Voice.
"Don't you think it was bad luck to meet so many lions?" said Shasta.
"There was only one lion," said the Voice.
..."How do you know?"
"I was the lion."  And as Shasta gaped with open mouth and said nothing, the Voice continues. "I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis.  I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the Horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time.  And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you."
"Then it was you who wounded Aravis?"
"It was I."
"But what for?"
"Child," said the Voice, "I am telling you your story, not hers.  I tell no one any story but his own."
"Who are you?" asked Shasta.
"Myself," said the Voice, very deep and low so that the earth shook; and again "Myself," loud and clear and gay; and then the third time "Myself," whispered so softly you could hardly hear it, and yet it seemed to come from all round you as if the leaves rustled with it.

I love this passage for so many reasons!  The main reason is that just before, Shasta is speaking about all of the woes and worries of his life.  How he was an orphan found and used as a slave.  How he was chased by lions over and over.  How he has now lost his friends and has no idea where he is going... but "The Voice" gives very little explanation, but enough to know that He was there all along.  The things even seen with a negative eye, have actually been made more clear.  After speaking with "The Voice" Shasta comes to a new understanding.

Often, we have to wait to understand exactly what God is doing in our lives.  It can all look rather dreary.  But in the end, when God shows us our story... we can only look back in awe.

If you want a biblical story to compare, take a closer look at Moses (in Exodus).  He too, was put in a basket set into the river and drifted to a new home, though not as a slave, but a prince.  And it is in Exodus 3 that God speaks to Moses and calls Himself "I Am".

So often we question God.  Even now in my own circumstances I'm left asking "why?"  But in the end I am left still praising.  Romans 11:33-36 sums it up quite well:

33Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments,

and his paths beyond tracing out!

34“Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been his counselor?”^j

35“Who has ever given to God,

that God should repay them?”^k

36For from him and through him and for him are all things.

           To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Part One of Thoughts on A Horse and His Boy... click Here!

Deeper Thoughts: A Horse and His Boy (part 1)

After 3 months of trying to read/listen to this book, I've finally succeeded.  I purchased it at Goodwill for just $0.89 and have found the part that I was longing to read again.

You MUST read the book, and in fact the entire Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.  But, I do think this portion is some of my favorite of the series...

And being very tired and having nothing inside him, he felt so sorry for himself that the tears rolled down his cheeks. 

What put a stop to all this was a sudden fright Shasta discovered that someone or somebody was walking beside him.  It was pitch dark and he could see nothing.  And the Thing (or Person) was going so quietly that he could hardly hear any footfalls.  What he could hear was breathing.  His invisible companion seemed to breathe on a very large scale and Shasta got the impression that it was a very large creature.  And he had come to notice this breathing so gradually that he had really no idea how long it had been there.  It was a horrible shock.

Isn't this how it sometimes is?  We are walking around, lonely, feeling sorry for our miserable circumstances and suddenly (if you are lucky) you realize that you are not alone at all!  And as you realize that you are not alone, you also realize that you noticed this presence so gradually, so gently, that you can't be sure of how long it has even been there.

The Thing (unless it was a Person) went on beside him so very quietly that Shasta began to hope he had only imagined it.  But just as he was becoming quite sure of it, there suddenly came a deep, rich sigh out of the darkness beside him  That couldn't be imagination!  Anyway, he had felt the hot breath of that sigh on his chilly left hand.
...At last he could bear it no longer.
"Who are you?" he said, scarcely above a whisper.
"One who has waited long for you to speak," said the Thing.  Its voice was not loud, but very large and deep.

Often God is there walking alongside us.  The whole time, just waiting for us to speak.  Waiting for us to cry out.  And then, He makes Himself known in such a gentle manor.  Even though He has done great things and will do even greater, He simply, quietly, patiently walks beside us. Waiting.  ( Isaiah 30:18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!)

"Are you- are you a giant?" asked Shasta.
"You might call me a giant," said the Large Voice. "But I am not like the creatures you call giants."
"I can't see you at all," said Shasta, after staring very hard.  Then (for an even more terrible idea had come into his head_ he said, almost in a scream, "You're not- not something dead, are you"  Oh please- please do go away.  What harm have I ever done you? Oh, I am the unluckiest person in the whole world!"
Once more he felt the warm breath of the Thing on his hand and face.  "There," it said, "that is not the breath of a ghost.  Tell me your sorrows."

Once we have finally turned to God.  Once we take the time to realize that He has been there all along, it is then that we often give ourselves permission to lament.  To pour out our hearts and to see the greater good and the bigger picture of it all.

It is the possibility of something wonderful, but it is also the possibility of losing yourself.  People are afraid of the unknown, afraid of the unseen.  We stare into the dark and try to realize what "it" is.  If we can't see it, if we can't fully realize "it" then the unknown is just too scary.

But there stands an invitation before us... Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (Revelation 3:20)   
There is such GOOD at the other side of the door!  We can't realize it now, and yes the unknown is scary.  But walking with God and talking with God, as scary as it is sometimes is so GOOD!  This brings me to another important quote from the Chronicles of Narnia.

“Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”

If you are still interested in deeper thoughts then click here for Part 2.