In case of emergency…

Big truth time… I’m not ready for new words, today. I need safe, familiar, comforting words. And that means reaching for Puddleglum. First, though, the calendar… for I have a bit of editing to do!

With my Red Thread around my wrist and my collection of brave saints’ medals around my neck, I am declaring that All Saints Day, which many of us just observed on November 1, is no longer just one day. Instead, it is every day we need it to be!!!

As you’ve probably heard me say, Walter Brueggemann explains it this way:

The Saints are all those who believe for us on days when we can’t quite believe for ourselves.

I’m guessing you hear me!

Which brings us to one of my personal Saints… a guy named Puddleglum, who graciously agreed to an encore visit in this moment!

For the for the uninitiated, Puddleglum is a Marsh Wiggle, who, with the Prince and some children, is being held by the Witch, who is busy explaining why their journey to Narnia is juvenile and futile. Puddleglum isn’t having it. Let’s listen in…

“One word, Ma’am,” he said, coming back from the fire; limping, because of the pain. “One word. All you’ve been saying is quite right, I shouldn’t wonder. I’m a chap who always liked to know the worst and then put the best face I can on it. So I won’t deny any of what you said. But there’s one thing more to be said, even so. Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things — trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that’s a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We’re just babies making up a game, if you’re right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That’s why I’m going to stand by the play world. I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn’t any Narnia. So, thanking you kindly for our supper, if these two gentlemen and the young lady are ready, we’re leaving your court at once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives looking for Overland. Not that our lives will be very long, I should think; but that’s small loss if the world’s as dull a place as you say.”

C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair, The Chronicles of Narnia

Now, I’ve loved this story for ages, and – today – I’m clinging, again, to the time when I realized that part of the power of Puddleglum is MOTION, even though anybody with half an ounce of sense knows it’s scary!

Specifically, that MOTION from past self to present self to longed-for future self. Even on days when it feels like Overland is a long way off and we don’t all agree on what Overland is actually like!

I’m starting at my easel, where my current #Legend painting is beginning to appear… hand (and power!) raised. #MedicineBasket open to new learning!

ps… may we all believe for each other – and our Littles – even just a wee bit, on the days when believing is hardest.

pps… turns out we may need this even more, now! My very best plan for including people! A Creation Poem… complete with mugs and posters! I suspect Puddleglum may have had an early edition! The books are buy 2 get 1 free, until Saturday, 11/9 at 11:59pm ET!!! (No discount code required… just put 3 in your cart!)