tabletalk

Post-Advent: C.S. Lewis - After the Resurrection

Christmas Eve, my friend Jerry Tankersley used a section from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe that I want to use here. After Aslan, the great Christ-Lion of Lewis's Narnia tales, returns to life, he takes the girls, Lucy and Susan to the Witch's house. This is what happens.

"What an extraordinary place!" cried Lucy. "All those stone animals-and people too! It's like a museum."
"Hush," said Susan, "Aslan's doing something."
He was indeed. He had bounded up to the stone lion and breathed on him....
..."Oh, Susan! Look! Look at the lion."
I expect you've seen someone put a lighted match to a bit of newspaper which is propped up in a grate against an unlit fire. And for a second nothing seems to have happened; and then you notice a tiny streak of flame creeping along the edge of the newspaper. It was like that now. For a second after Aslan had breathed upon him the stone lion looked just the same. Then a tiny streak of gold began to run along his white marble back - then it spread - then the colour seemed to lick all over him as the flame licks all over a bit of paper - then, while his hind-quarters were still obviously stone the lion shook his mane and all the heavy, stony folds rippled into living hair. Then he opened a great red mouth, warm and living, and gave a prodigious yawn. And now his hind legs had come to life. He lifted one of them and scratched himself. Then, having caught sight of Aslan, he went bounding after him and frisking round him whimpering with delight and jumping up to lick his face...Everywhere the statues were coming to life. The courtyard looked no longer like a museum; it looked more like a zoo."

Two observations. First, I'm reminded often that Presbyterians have, in recent years, been identified as God's frozen chosen. Along with my previous post, I believe it is true enough of many. It is like we have been frozen by the Witch's wand into stony statues. Part of the wonder of Christmas is the unfreezing of human hearts. This is the childlikeness I spoke of earlier. One of the tasks of Christmas for the church is to breathe God's Spirit into the world and bring it to life. For many Christians, it is having Christ break the spell first - we've fallen asleep and become "the frozen chosen". Animated not for their own sake, but so that they can assist in turning other statues into real beings.

Second, I'm reminded that when we do invite new life, particularly in the church where we have become content with being the non-messy statuary, it will look more like a zoo than a museum. A lot messier. A lot more exciting. Certainly more challenging. Don't forget this. If new life is moving into your static congregation or set of friends, it will be more like a zoo. Nothing will be status quo and you can't force it backwards.

The world needs to be transformed into Christ's living beings. But so does the church. Too often we are content to stay in the statue garden. Christ brings life-giving breath to all. May he begin with us this season.

C.S. Lewis - Advent Wonder

It's the day after Boxing Day. The challenge of the Christmas season is always trying to maintain, or retain - the wonderment of the season. Things start to get a little shabby this week as we head towards New Year's Eve.

On Christmas Eve I was privileged to sing my friend Jim Cole's song - Humble Yourself. I prefaced it by saying that we Christmas Eve is a time for child wonderment. And that God invites us to have eyes, ears, hearts, and faith like children. But not merely once a year, God invites us to believe throughout our lives.

In the Last Battle from Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, the children get through the stable door into the "real" Narnia. There they are reunited with old friends and people of older stories. One of the questions they are asked is "Where's Susan?" their sister.

Here's the response.

"My sister Susan," answered Peter shortly and gravely, "is no longer a friend of Narnia."
"Yes," said Eustace, "and whenever you've tried to get her to come and talk about Narnia or do anything about Narnia, she says 'What wonderful memories you have! Fancy your still thinking about those funny games we used to play when we were children.'"
"O Susan!" said Jill, "she's interested in nothing now-a-days except nylons and lipstick and invitations. She always was a jolly sight too keen on being grown-up."
"Grown-up, indeed," said the Lady Polly. "I wish she would grow up. She wasted all her school time wanting to be the age she is now, and she'll waste all the rest of her life trying to stay that age. Her whole idea is to race on to the silliest time of one's life as quick as she can and then stop there as long as she can."

I don't know if this can be undone once we've rushed on to where we think our individual "progress" is supposed to be. But perhaps we can allow God's spirit to "re-birth" our sense of faith and wonderment and be surprised and marvel at what God does. Maybe this is what Jesus is talking about in John's gospel. That to be reborn is to gain this childlike openness to the things of God. It's a thought. A comforting and interesting thought.

Advent - Waiting Rooms

"You were born for a time such as this". And so, many people I know have listened to this verse as a description of the 'greatness' of the moment and as a kind of benediction on their lives and ministries. It means, beneath the surface, that they are called to a significant role in history. Like Esther, they are important.

We all want to be important. We all want to be significant 'players' on the stage of history.

Advent can be seen this way, as the kairos moment on the verge of changing the world. And it is - really! But Advent itself tries to teach us the lesson of the waiting room.

This is not a new image for Advent, but it is an observation for our time. I've been in a few waiting rooms in my life. Lots of them actually. And at this time in my life I know what to do in them. There are a few practices that may prove helpful for you that I've learned along the way and recently reflected on when I was sitting in a hospital waiting room a few weeks ago.

First, once you arrive don't be anxious about needing to talk to someone or seeing the people you came to encourage. Don't be anxious about your part. Your part is essentially done. You are present.

Second, be considerate of others in the waiting room - especially people who are not part of your concerned group. Listen, watch, help where you can. It may mean offering a chair or opening a door. Usually small things. Don't get into other people's problems, just make it easier for them to bear their burden. You don't have to carry it. You can be a help by not being needy. It's not about you anyway. (I preached this long before Rick Warren got a hold of it. He may have stolen it from me! Well, I may have stolen it too!)

Third, make sure you bring something to do. I'm always prepared to pray. Usually, I have something to read. Sometimes I will have internet access and can use my iphone keep in touch. Sometimes I would bring paper and pen and write. More often than not, the only thing I get to is praying. There was a member of my former congregation who was sitting in the hospital hallway when the parent of the child in the ICU passed by. He was asked if he wanted to come in and visit. His response was no, he was doing what he needed to do - pray. And my friend went regularly to the hospital and diligently prayed for healing. He didn't need updates or doctor consults. Prayer covered it all.

Fourth, don't be anxious to leave. Number one, those you go to visit are on a timeless clock. Yours is of no consequence. Plus, when you wait and stay put, you may just be there at the right moment. Certainly if you pray, you are doing an important work. But if you can't wait around, why did you come by in the first place? Showing up - sticking around.

Fifth, speak when spoken to. Don't be anxious about what you are to say. Listen a lot. Be attentive to those you came to see. You don't have the right words to say anyway - and oh, did I mention - it's not about you.

I believe this Advent season we are, more than ever, sitting in the world's waiting room. We don't know the extent of the injuries to our culture, economy, world. We don't know what will happen. We feel powerless over the events that have shaped the current status of our lives and country and beyond. The people around us seem on the verge, the edge, and are anxious.

The above things may well be a good way to navigate. Most importantly the world needs us to be a non-anxious presence. You might be surprised by how much you make a difference by showing up, sticking around, listening, praying, being helpful to those outside your circle of friends. Advent is a good time for us Christian types. It can very well bring out the best in us.