Last night I read the last half of the first installment in CS Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia. (I know three books makes a trilogy so what do you call seven books?) I read it as a kid but didn’t remember much of it. We’re hoping to finally see the movie while here in Greenville, where we can leave Asa with his doting grandmother. I was struck by the way the story parallels the gospel. Lewis said that he did not simply set out to write an allegory, but to write a good story for children and to imagine how the gospel may have played out in another world. The result is really interesting.
One passage I found particularly interesting is when the children are first hearing about Aslan (who I suppose is the original Lion King) from Mr. and Mrs. Beaver. One of the children asks if Aslan is safe. The reply (p75-76) is well worth considering:
‘If there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than me or else just silly.’
‘Then he isn’t safe?’ asked Lucy.
‘Safe?’ said Mr. Beaver. ‘Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.’