As we see our friends approaching the Dark Island, we’re reminded of the fear ~ the gripping, irrational, overwhelming fear ~ we can experience in our worst dreams. Unlike so much of Narnia, where the most amazing and delightful magical things are everyday reality, on the Dark Island we see how we can become paralyzed by our fear of the unknown.
As they sit on the ship, helpless, anxious and (aside from the fearless Reepicheep) thoroughly desperate to find a way to retreat from the dark abyss, Lucy whispers a prayer.
I love this moment. Lucy certainly doesn't treat Aslan with a “vending machine” attitude. She has treasured her relationship with Aslan, but she has never seemed to demand his presence or beg him for things. But she is quite aware, even in her fear & terrifying circumstance, exactly who to cry out for -- the only one who is able to save her.
“Aslan, Aslan, if you ever loved us at all, send us help now.”
I once asked a friend, quite directly, “I want to know. Does prayer actually bend the hand of God?” I was tired of wondering if my prayers were in vain. Or telling people, “Of course I'll pray for you!” only to wonder if it was even worth the time. My wise friend quickly answered, “Well, I don’t know if it changes God’s hand, but I do know it always changes the one who prays.”
And I see that truth here, in Lewis’ depiction of Lucy’s plea to Aslan. For though we do not see even one detail immediately change regarding their dire situation, Lewis’ writes that Lucy changed. She began to feel “a little better.” And soon, she sees a beam of light...and hears the voice whispering back to her, “Courage, dear heart.”
How beautiful is that? As she quiets her heart in the midst of the darkness and prays, Lucy is changed.
(Interesting note: C.S. Lewis illustrates this principle of prayer in the The Last Battle as well. As Tirian is left alone, tied to a tree, he calls out, "Aslan! Aslan! Aslan! Come and help us now!" There the brilliant Lewis writes, "There was no change in the night or the wood, but there began to be a kind of change in Tirian. Without knowing why, he began to feel a faint hope.")
I want to be like Lucy. She abides & trusts -- and she alone was able to hear the voice she was sure was Aslan’s ~ even on the Dark Island.
Courage dear heart...that line will be important to remember on the Voyage of the Dawn Treader Adventure Weekend. Listen for it.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that it takes "the dark night of the soul" and "the cloud of unknowing" to prompt us to cry out to g-d. I don't think the dark night is so much a mistake or misfortune as much as it is just the common human voyage of the soul throughout life.
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