Sometimes, as you may have noticed, there’s just too much news! When that happens, around here, it’s library time. All the very favorites, exactly where they belong. And, today was one of those days! (You do the math!)
Matilda, as you may recall, is my new externalized source of strategies for overcoming obstacles. (aka #Apothecary 5.0) One of her radical ideas is the notion that wisdom which has helped before just might come in handy again, even when the context gets different!
I suspect that’s why I was dreaming about her rooting around in the bookshelves!
And, yes… the stack she came up with probably looks familiar. And, they’re all connected to stories!
Let’s start with…
Dr. Walter Brueggemann preaching in chapel at Columbia Theological Seminary, back in the day. After acknowledging that it was, perhaps, a bit outside the Reformed theology world view in which we were being “raised,” Walter said this:
The Saints are all those who believe for us on days when we can’t quite believe for ourselves.
Leaping a bit, but actually not so very far, we come to one of my personal Saints, a guy named Puddleglum.
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, but in this moment I’m reclaiming the realization that part of the power is in Puddleglum choosing and speaking and acting, even though anybody with half an ounce of sense knows it’s scary!
For now, may you feel your Saints believing for you, and believe for someone else when they can’t quite believe for themselves. Maybe even for me! This photo is very nearly finished art for my first children’s book which is almost ready to be born! (And, yes… Matilda approves!)
ps… the little white book in the top photo, kind of leaning against the others, is my Grandmothers Are In Charge Of Hope! Click here to get your copy!