Maggie's Memos: Searching for Narnia

 

  Hi everyone, this is Maggie.  Have you ever read a really good story and then wished with all your heart that it would come true?  That's what happened to me the first time I read "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis.  Actually, I guess I should say the first time I heard it.  My dad reads a chapter from a book to my brother, my mom and me every Friday night.  It started when I was just four years old, and he's been doing it ever since (that is, when I'm not hanging out at Tess's house). :)  My dad's a great reader.  He makes the stories come alive with his rich, warm voice.  Sometimes I close my eyes and listen, just to focus on the pictures in my head.     
  From the moment Lucy first stepped through the wardrobe, I was hooked.  Dad used to love to tell people about the day he found me, a determined 5 year old, banging around in my closet.  I was sure if I tried hard enough I could find the way to Narnia myself.  I wanted to meet Aslan, to have tea with Mr. Tumnus and see the Beaver's dam.  I wanted to be there the morning Aslan defeated death, to hear his great roar and romp and play with him in the early sunlight.
  After Dad read the first book to us, he continued on with the rest of the series.  The books got better and better.  Each one made me wish even more that I could go to Narnia.  I longed to hear the talking beasts, especially Jewel the unicorn from the final book, "The Last Battle".  I think Jewel is actually the one that got me interested in unicorns.  I've been collecting them ever since. :)
  Of course, now that I'm 13 I'm old enough to realize that Narnia isn't a real place.  I think I always knew that, even as a little girl, but a part of me wished so hard that the stories were true.  One nice thing about being a follower of Christ, though, is that someday I know I will go to a place even better than Narnia.  I won't meet Aslan, but I will meet the One who's always loved me and known me.  I think my childhood love for Aslan drew me even closer to Christ, because there were so many things that Aslan taught me about the character of God in a way I could understand.  The best part is, it's no fairy tale!
  I think sometimes our longing for a different world is a God-given desire.  It reminds us that there's more to life than the here and now.  Even those who don't believe in God wish for something better and hope there's more than what we see before us.  I think that longing causes us to search for meaning and significance.  Some of us try to fill it with things that feel good for the present, but won't last.  The only way to truly fill the void is to fill it with Jesus.  His death and resurrection made it possible for us to go to Heaven, the ultimate "other world".  I can't wait to get there, even if it turns out I can't run with a unicorn without getting tired (if you've read "The Last Battle", you'll know what I'm talking about). ;) I know it's going to be great. :)

"Maybe this door's the one..."