King Peter

I've been a fan of The Chronicles of Narnia since I read them as a child, when most of my imaginative play had to do with "magic" ie. fairies, eves, pixies, flying horses.

Now that I've "put away childish things" so to speak, and understand what true good "magic" is (the power of God at work in our lives), I love these tales by C. S. Lewis even more. . . and, by extension, the films they've inspired. Like so many tales of magic, in books or films, they remind me of what is real.

I watched Prince Caspian again tonight, skipping through for the parts I most "needed to hear". There is a contrast in the film between Lucy, who is looking for help from Aslan, and Peter, who will not "wait any longer for Aslan" but thinks he needs to do everything on his own. Lucy, who is looking and waiting, sees Aslan and, when she follows his instructions, receives his help. Peter "relies on his own strength" (I've read The Book of Mormon enough times to know that's a bad idea), and falls on his proverbial face.

As I paused the movie at one point tonight, to ponder on where Peter was failing, a scripture came to mind:

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings as eagles;" - Isaiah 40:31

Sometimes I've been Lucy. Too often, I've been Peter. Every day in fact. I know I need to rely on the Lord more. I often think I have to do it on my own and I don't "ask" so I can "receive". I don't "wait on the Lord" and, instead, get discouraged, try to do more than I can do alone, panic, and fall on my proverbial face.

Here's hoping I finally learn my lesson, like King Peter.