Being "Different"

Recently, I've been listening to audio books in the car as I drive to work. I'm not really a morning person and I find it extremely hard to look forward to the 45 minute drive in crazy rush hour traffic, but listening to a book on the way makes the trip go by faster and keeps me from going insane. My latest book is Ted Dekker's Saint. It's the story of a man who was brainwashed and became a trained mercenary assasin for the X Group, a secret organization in Hungary. Interesting choice, I know. The funny thing is that although the book reads like The Bourne Identity, complete with car chases and snipers, I've been able to glean some very important spiritual truths from it. The main character, Johnny, struggles to accept the fact that he will never be normal. His training and talents have set him apart from the rest of the world. For Johnny, this is a huge tragedy. We human beings want so much to fit in, to be part of a group, to be accepted. Johnny's best friend Samuel tells him that until he accepts that he is a freak, ostracized from society, he will never be able to wield his powers fully. As Christians, we are different. We are freaks. We have been given the amazing power of Jesus' love, and we will never be the same. We are not apart of the world. We are called to be in the world, but not of it. Until we accept this fact, like Johnny, we will never be able to reach others with the Love of Christ. How often in my life I've wanted to fit in. I hate to be thought of as different. I want everyone to accept me, but that's not my goal in life. God has accepted me, and I need to accept my true calling, which is to be set-apart for him. The sooner I learn this, the sooner I can bring greater glory to my Heavenly Father.

Welcome to the Wardrobe

One of the very first books I read was The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. I was 5, and it was a birthday gift from one of my mom's friends. The book was magic. I entered the wardrobe right when Lucy did. I stepped on the fresh white snow with her, and walked home with a faun for tea. I was with her when she first met Aslan. I saw his great, golden eyes, and felt his wonderfully soft fur. I played with the Pevensies, laughed and cried with them, shouted with victory when the battle was won. In a way, I grew up in Narnia. I went on to read all the books, from The Magician's Nephew to The Last Battle. It was a world that I entered readily, over and over. And through entering the wardrobe with the other children, I also entered on a deeper relationship with my savior. In Aslan's eyes, I saw my Jesus. I watched him die, and realized more fully the price he paid for me. I felt more of his love, and felt my heart yearn towards him. When I learned to love the lion Aslan, I learned to love the Lion of Judah. Now, as an adult, and reading the books again, I see even more than I did when as a little girl I poured over the books under my covers with a flashlight, long after I was supposed to be asleep. I see the child-like faith of Lucy, and wish I had more of it. There are still parts of Narnia I have yet to explore. I have come to compare my childhood journey into Narnia, with my spiritual journey into the great unknown frontier of GOD. I've gone through the wardrobe door, yes, but I have so much more to explore. I hope you enjoy coming with me.