Well, my sister Lee is still here and she treated my kids I to the movies to see Voyage of the Dawn Treader (based on the books by C.S. Lewis)!
I have to say that it was AMAZING and that the last part had me crying, sobbing, etc! Kleenex tissues please!!!
As a child I read all the books and knew, JUST KNEW who Aslan represented without anyone out there explaining it to me.
Voyage of the Dawn Treader is symbolic of how we must listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit rather than to our own when we are tempted, but that victory does not come without a good fight. The sword in the story of course represents the word of G-d!
Our minds must be clear of any thoughts that might eventually become a reality (this is what happened with Edmund when thoughts of fear became a monster that he had to physically overcome), for sin begins in our minds and in our hearts before we take it to action. Trust me when I say that it's just a very fine line from one to the other. That is why we must remain focused on G-d's word (our sword) and His presence!
Not easy. I know. Yet possible if we fight tempation and damaging thoughts much like Lucy, Edmund and Eustace did during this amazing Narnia story.
As I saw Aslan (who really represents the Lion of Judah) scrape the sand to peel off the scales from the dragon, my heart was in my throat! When from under all that dragon came out a better version of Eustace (who had been a rebel and an obnoxious little boy prior to that experience) it really touched me when he said something along the lines of, "It hurt, but it was a good pain."
The book is way more detailed. One night, Eustace (who had turned himself into a dragon when he gave into temptation) heard Aslan calling to him and saying "Follow Me". Eustace told Edmund later that he was afraid, though as a dragon he could've eaten any lion; he wasn't afraid of being eaten, he was just afraid. Following Aslan he was taken to a pool where he wanted to bathe his leg. Aslan told him that he must first undress. Scratching and clawing himself, Eustace desperately tried to shed his scales like a snake skin. After three times through this ordeal, he began to fear that he would never be rid of the scales. Aslan's voice told him "You will have to let me undress you," and he tore the skin from Eustace, picked him up and dropped him into the pool. As Eustace washed he realized that his arm was no longer in pain because he had turned back into a boy. He returned to the camp and told Edmund what had happened to him. It was Edmund who told him that the lion must have been Aslan. Everyone saw after this that Eustace was a much better natured boy.
WOW!!!!
I have got to see that movie again. One time was just not enough for me.
As Reepicheep crossed over past the tall wave into Aslan's Country (which truly represents the Kingdom of G-d), I was incredibly touched. He had fought the good fight and made it! He earned his way in.
I cried and cried when Lucy was bidding Aslan goodbye, since she knew that this was her last trip to Narnia. Then asked Aslan if she would ever see Him again in her world.
His answer? You are all going to love this one if you have not yet seen the movie!
"In your world I have another name, and you must get to know me by it."
Hallelujah!!! Ok.Tears... like right now. LOL.
Intense!
One day we will see "Aslan's Country" too, same as Reepicheep, the little brave mouse who fought like a giant. We often times see ourselves as tiny as a mouse and feel that temptation and sin are way too powerful for us to overcome.
That's not so.
The word of G-d says in Zechariah 4:6 "Not by might, nor by power, but by My SPIRIT!"
That is how spiritual battles are won.
Reepicheep never saw himself as a little mouse. If there is one thing that we learn from the bravest of all the characters is that he NEVER put down his sword. NEVER!
His true strength was in his faith and in the faith he shared with the others. His main goal was to reach Aslan's Country and be with him. He knew that if he did his part in the battle, Aslan would take care of the rest.
Even Eustace learned this lesson after attempting to rid himself of the dragon he'd become because of his sin. Unable to do it with his own strength He had to let Aslan undress him and peel all the scales off. Like he said, the process of the transformation was painful, but it was a good pain.
Totally worth it.
As if the movie wasn't GREAT enough... here is the theme song for the movie!
Absolutely BRILLIANT! (Not an official video, like it states, but whoever managed to put this together did a pretty good job)
