Tonight I read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe chapters 7-9 and Joshua 7 with my boy. Great reading. It made me really think about covetousness and our modern culture. It begs the question, Where are you standing? Rest assured I asked it of myself!
As an aside, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver are such a great pair. For just a moment, I really wanted to join Mr. Beaver in a mug of beer, but only for a moment. There will be time for that a year from now. Got to stick to the quest!
Achen and Edmond
Really, what struck me was how both the story of Achen and of Edmund are so sad. Both are under the spell of covetousness. Edmund left the cozy environs of the Beaver’s home, to head out into the cold and snow. Then he slipped, stumbled, and got battered and bruised fumbling his way to the White Witch’s castle. His motivation was the definition of covetous. Turkish Delight and the desire to be King over his brother. I remember times when I was just as wicked. I love what Lewis writes about the Turkish Delight:
And now of course you want to know what happened to Edmund. He had eaten his share of the dinner, but he hadn’t really enjoyed it because he was thinking all the time about Turkish Delight-and there’s nothing that spoils the taste of good ordinary food half so much as the memory of bad magic food.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe -C.S. Lewis
Where are you standing?
There is some deep symbolism in chapter 9. Edmond encounters a statue of a lion in the White Witch’s courtyard. Edmund felt horrified at the mention of Aslan’s name. Now he is filled with terror as he faces a real lion. He trembles, his heart races. He cannot move. After long moments, he experiences some relief when he realizes the lion is made of stone. He laughs, he gloats, he jeers, he defaces the statue. “Pooh! Who’s afraid of Aslan?” he says. He hopes the witch has already triumphed.
When the mention of the name or an image of a Lord you have not yet encountered drives you first to fear and then to mockery, beware. You are very likely standing in the courtyard of the White Witch.
Reminded to delight in the ordinary everyday! Love you, great picture
Bad Magic Food: Lewis was ahead of his time. I cannot think of a better metaphor for modern media, social or otherwise.
Well said!