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Journal entry by Loretta Beyer -- March 8, 2021
I remember reading of a famous literary author who, when asked how he was doing, replied that the thatch on the roof was falling in and the rest of his body was failing, but the real person inside was hale and hearty, and growing stronger by the day.
II Corinthians 4:16: "Therefore we do not lose heart, though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day (NIV)."
That is the thought for today' s entry.
In my last writing, I referred to several children's books with profound allegorical overtones, one of which was The "Narnia" series by C.S. Lewis, beloved for years by children and adults alike.
Four siblings from London -- Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter -- were sent to live with their uncle in the country and ended up having many amazing adventures, the first of which occurred when Lucy entered a wardrobe in a game of hide-and-seek and was accidentally ushered into the magical land of Narnia, "where everything was always winter, but never spring," because of the vice-grip hold of power the white witch Jadis held over Narnia.
The first creature she met was the Faun, Mr. Tumnus, who was ashamed of himself for originally planning to turn her over to the witch, as she had commanded, but, instead, he and a host of other forest creatures attempt to conceal her presence from the evil one.
Eventually, all four of them end up back in Narnia and are taken on a journey where first Lucy and then the others meet Aslan, the ferocious and yet gentle lion, who ends up being sacrificed on a stone altar. When they thought all was lost, Aslan came back to life and thoroughly rousted and destroyed the witch, setting free all manner of prisoners who had been turned into stone in her castle.
A delightful series which I highly recommend, and a powerful allegory for the power of Jesus being raised from the dead and overcoming the gates of hell and victoriously declaring, "Aslan is on the move!"
Another favorite of mine is "The Lord of the Rings" series, by J.R.R. Tolkien -- an allegory of life's journey from an unassuming hobbit who is quite content to stay put, never go on any adventures, and certainly never leave on one without a handkerchief! Bilbo ends up finding a magic ring that could make you disappear as necessary, which was handy for stealing food and provisions and rescuing his dwarf friends.
Later, his nephew, Frodo, takes over the saga, along with his friend, Sam, who faithfully follows him all the way to Mount Doom to destroy that ring, which had terrible controlling powers over whomever wore it and for which the evil one employed all means necessary to retrieve it and gain ultimate power over the world. Then, Sauron, the gray wizard, who masquerades as good, appears to engage in an epic battle with Gandalf with the help of the elves and many others who help bring about the eventual victory of good over evil.
The story of our lives reenacted through a whole new prism, but still true today.
Good will always triumph over evil when God is involved.
The last book that comes to mind is "Hinds' Feet on High Places," by Hannah Hurnard.
A young lady named Much Afraid is taken on her journey from bondage to freedom with her two companions, Sorrow and Suffering, up into the high places of her Shepherd, and all that it took to arrive there. I could certainly relate and highly recommend that allegory of a Christian's life from salvation through maturity. The book's foreword explained that the author had emotionally debilitating issues, such as a severe stuttering, and how she overcame them through Christ's transforming power.
Psalm 23:4-6: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies. My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever (KJV)."
Philippians 1:6: "And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion, at the day of Jesus Christ (ESV)."
II Corinthians 1:20: "… for all the promises of God are yes and amen (HCSB)."
Isaiah 43:19: "Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert."
What comfort we can find through the spoken word, both human and divine, through all life's transitions.
This column is published posthumously with permission from the family. Missionary kid Loretta Beyer grew up in Zimbabwe. After graduating college in the U.S. with a degree in music and psychology, she joined her parents in Alpena, because of terrorist warfare in her African home. Over the last 40 years, she has made Alpena her place of ministry.