The End of time is at hand - Christmas in Narnia

29 December 1999

Well it is the end of the millennium at least according to the media. So very soon the calendar will turn 01-01-00. and we will then have 366 days (Y2K is leap year) to get ready for the beginning of the new millennium on 01-01-01. So in the definite fact that I will not be alive, at least in this imperfect state, for the next time either of these dates come around I would like to spend a few moments reflecting on the current state of affairs.

The last time these dates occurred I'm sure many looked for the end of the world and the return of Christ. Over these last thousand years we have changed calendars so we are probably well into 2000 in the old Julian. Einstein taught us that time is only relative anyway. And from the man of this century we have since his death tried to make everything else relative also. Only Einstein's relativity related to the cosmos, our relativity relates to our own personal perceptions.

In that true essence of time, this year I have developed a new Christmas Eve tradition, to go along with my seafood chowder. Over the years it has evolved from my mother's oyster stew into this years shrimp, calimari (squid), and clams, with tomatoes, okra and potatoes. Really it was excellent, but quite a non-kosher dish to celebrate the birth of the Jewish Messiah, but then again Christmas is not a Jewish (Messianic or Traditional) holiday. So welcome the babe born in Bethlehem with angels and gentile soup. The new tradition is the watching of the BBC and PBS video adaptation of C.S. Lewis's "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" from "The Chronicles of Narnia" This land of a different time frame, entered through the wardrobe in an atttic room, is ruled by a wicked Witch who has assumed the title of Queen of Narnia. She has cast a spell over the whole land so that it is always winter but never Christmas. It still is a great little land were all the animals can talk and live in harmony, except for those evil creatures who have sided with the witch. She has also done an excellent job of turning her enemies into stone.

As the story develops the true ruler of Narnia, Aslan the lion, returns to rectify the situation. His return brings the melting of snows, the return of Father Christmas and spring time conditions. According to ancient legends dating from the beginning of time, Aslan gives his life in exchange for the life of the snooty little boy. But just when all as seen as lost, Aslan returns from the dead and helps the four children conquer the witch and her demonic hordes. It seems that there was another legend dating from before time began, that stated that all these events would take place. After the witch is defeated, the four rule as kings and queens in Narnia, before returning to jolly old England. But the moral is once a king and queen in Narnia, always a king and queen in Narnia. Even though they eventually get too old to return. Narnia is after all just a place for children, adults are way to sophisticated to believe in simple story of a Lion King dying for another person and then coming to life again.

There are two other episodes in the video series whose titles correspond to two of the other books in C. S. Lewis's seven part series. Because of my sheepish education, I have never read the series, so I do not know if the videos just cover the other books bearing their names or are more complete. "The Chronicles of Narnia" however, is somewhat the basis for the title "The Chronicles of Diversity.

Always winter but never Christmas, in Seattle we could say it is never winter and never Christmas. The facts bear witness that the symbolism of Narnia is a truth that even some adults believe, though all too few. Because of that they hold on to the illusion that Christmas only comes once a year. But because our Lion from the Tribe of Judah came to claim His people and His land from Satan two thousand years ago, we should be celebrating Christmas every day. Winter, Summer, Spring or Fall no matter the season, it should always be Christmas. For every day in the Kingdom of the Son of God everyone is a King and Queen. May God help us to recognize that fact and joyfully tell the true story of the coming of the Lion and His resurrection from the dead, into a timeless everlasting. For the end of our time is at hand and we will all one day go through the wardrobe into a land even better than Narnia. Amen.

PRAYER PLANTS

As part of the never winter scenario, Christmas was foggy in Seattle. No rain for over a week, just fog. As far as my future it seemed as a fog also. Today for a brief moment, however that fog seemed to lift and I could see a path leading forward clear to the horizon. It looks like pharaoh's army is fast approaching from the rear and there seems to be an ocean ahead, with no boat to cross. As God said to Moses in Exodus 14:15, "Why do you cry out to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward." As one of those children, I took a little baby step into the water and it seems as if it has retreated, and there sure is a lot of water between here and the other shore, but for a change, the land and the path through the wilderness still looks to be there. As of yet the spiritual fog has not settled in.

What all that means is that I think I see a way to move over to the twenty acres, to pay for it outright or make enough money to cover debt service, to do the ministry work and to live on. All this within acceptable debt equity ratios that both I and a banker would find acceptable. As of yet it is still a vision so your prayers are readily accepted. I personally like the outright payout, but right now that part is not too clear, but the path of faith seems clear or foggy enough to continue forward.

Along that same line, last week Kris Repp (see Hearts for Hope @ St. Paul's Mission in meyersfalls.com) was back from Central America. One of her requests was to provide latrines for about 1000 homes that were built from international funds following hurricane Mitch. I was able to find some plans that were already in metric measurements that would work in the area. I also have an idea on how they could be modified so that they would be better and cheaper and would also allow for development of the actual community from within its own limited resources. That preliminary work cannot be done at this location nor are the funds available to carry it any farther now. Moving forward along this line also points therefore towards the path laid out in the paragraphs above. Please pray for the integration of these plans as well as other provision.

Finally, a Christmas Hymn from that old 1918 Hymnary

While shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down, and glory shown around.

"Fear not," said he - for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind -
"Glad tidings of great joy I bring, To you and all mankind.

"To you in David's town this day, Is born of David's line
The Savior, who is Christ the Lord, And this shall be the sign -

The heavenly Babe you there shall find, To human view displayed,
All meanly wrapped in swathing bands and in a manger laid."

Thus spake the seraph - and forthwith Appeared a shining throng
Of angels, praising God, who thus Addressed their joyful song: -

"All glory be to God on high And to the earth be peace
Good-will henceforth from heaven to men Begin and never cease."

Nahum Tate, 1702