Excited about Narnia

I've been reading "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" with my class so far this year. It is so funny to see them get so into it. It's a fantasy story of a magic land inside of a wardrobe with mythical creatures and animals that talk. Every day, I pull out the book and the kids get suddenly quiet and some of them pull their chairs right up to my desk. Everday, Paul gives me the summary of what we read the day before and then when we finish reading for the day, he begs for me, but it's time for lunch and the book has to be put away. On Fridays, we've been watching a bit of the movie--just the parts that we've read about. Everytime I turn it off, there is load moans for the crowd of kids watching, and they beg for more. But, I stick to it. We have to read the book first. Yesterday, Paul was even asking that we read more of the book right then so we could watch more of the movie.

Reading the book brings back so many memories for me. It brings back childhood memories curled up with the books of Chronicles of Narnia and then heading to the library to pick up the BBC versions of the movies to watch. It brings back memories of the cartoon that my brother, sister, and I would watch together over and over. And it brings back memories from just a few years ago when I spent the summer living with Kat and Isaiah. That summer was such amazing time with them and that was the summer that I reread the whole series before the first movie came out.

As I'm reading, I am just reminded how C.S. Lewis brilliantly wrote these little fantasy tales, but with such deep truth to them. And the way the kids are drawn into the story. . .if only others could be drawn so easily into relationship with our GREAT KING. Our lives really have the possibility of being such a great story (A Million Miles in a Thousand Years) if only we can fully accept the love of a God isn't quite safe, but is so good (as they explain Aslan in the book).

I'm excited that the next movie in the Chronicles journey is coming out this Christmas. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VccQ10gDqr0