'The term is over, the holidays have begun. The dream is ended, this is the morning.' And as He spoke He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story, which no one on earth has read, which goes on forever in which every chapter is better than the one before.
I am on a mission. I have been searching for a certain CS Lewis quote for almost two years. It is similar to this quote:
"Heaven will solve our problems, but not, I think, by showing us subtle reconciliations between all our apparently contradictory notions. The notions will all be knocked from under our feet. We shall see that there never really was any problem."
And it is possible that the quote I am looking for is at the end of this quote or in the same article or book. However, I cannot find where this quote originates. The quote I am looking for says something to the effect that 'Heaven is where the questions and answers collide'. I know I heard this quote on a DVD about the life of Ruth Bell Graham.
If any of you have heard of this quote, or know where it is to be found, please let me know by leaving a comment.
Well, not much has been happening in my little life. Just lots of studying. The life of a college student can be very monotonous like that... Anyway, I came across this video recently and got an inspiration for a little Narnia story. It's not very good, but it made me laugh. Watch the video, then read the story. And comment! :)
Narnian Animal Groups…
Lucy entered Peter’s room asking, “Edmund,” “Lucy! Have you seen the list?” “No, what list?” “Aslan’s Mane! Don’t get him started!” Peter suddenly cried out. “The animal groups in Narnia. I have to know them all. I had heard of a herd of cattle and a flock of birds, but did you know that in Narnia we have an army of ants, a congress of baboons, a culture of bacteria, a cete of badgers, a sleuth of bears, a lodge of beavers, a grist of bees, a flock of birds, a sounder of boar, a brace of bucks,”
Edmund began pacing, staring frantically at a smudged piece of paper. “...a rabble of butterflies, a wake of buzzards, a flock of camels, a clutter of cats, a kindle of kittens, a peep of chickens, a brood of chicks, a bed of clams, a band of coyotes, a siege of cranes, a float of crocodiles, or a murder of crows…”
Peter’s head dropped down into his hands with a groan and Lucy stood with mouth agape. “Edmund, stop!” his brother cried. “BUT I CANT! A leash of deer, a pack of dogs, a pod of dolphins, a drove of donkeys, a bevy of doves, a brace of ducks, a convocation of eagles, a swarm of eels, a parade of elephants, a gang of elk, a mob of emus…”
“Mob… huh!” Peter snorted. After hearing this list five times before breakfast, seven more times before lunch, and now the ninth recitation since tea time, he was starting to come unglued.
Edmund continued to talk faster and faster, his eyes glazing over. “A business of ferrets, a charm of finches, a school of fish, a skulk of foxes, a knot of frogs, a gaggle of geese, a horde of gerbils, a kindergarten of giraffes, a prickle of hedgehogs, a herd of hippopotami,”
Edmund flipped the page over, scarcely taking a breath. “...a scold of jays, a smack of jellyfish, a mob of kangaroos, a ascension of larks, a leap of leopards. A pride of lions, a lounge of lizards, a labor of moles, a troup of monkeys, a watch of nightingales, a parliament of owls…”
“How long has he been doing this?” Lucy asked, half in horror, half in admiration. “All day!” Peter moaned. “He’s delirious! I’m positive he has a fever and is out of his head!”
Edmund chattered on, unheeding. “A bed of oysters, a ostentation of peacocks, a colony of penguins, a drove of pigs, a passel of possum, a coterie of prairie dogs, a down of rabbits, a gaze of raccoons, a plague of rats, an unkindness of ravens,”
Lucy plopped down in an easy chair and let out a long sigh which Edmund gave no indication of hearing. “...a shoal of salmon, a bob of seals, a shiver of shark, a fold of sheep, a wisp of snipes, a scurry of squirrels, an ambush of tigers, a knot of toads, a hover of trout, a bale of turtles, a pity of turtledoves, a sneak of weasels, a pod of whales, a pack of wolves, a fall of woodcocks, a descent of woodpeckers, and a zeal of zebras.”
He came to an abrupt stop, and stood there swaying. Peter’s head shot up. “Edmund, why don’t you come lie down for a while?” he asked hopefully, in the same manner he would try to coax a cat down from a tree back in England. Edmund almost looked coherent. “But, I have to know…” “It’s alright Ed! You have plenty of time!” Lucy soothed, trying to ease him away from the paper clutched in his hand.
Just as Peter and Lucy had almost achieved success and pried the paper from Edmund’s clutching fingers, Susan opened the door. “Edmund,” she began. Edmund’s head shot up and he glanced at his paper. “An army of ants, a congress of baboons, a culture of bacteria, a cete of badgers…”
“Oh no!” Peter and Lucy wailed. Susan froze in the doorway. “What did I just do?” “Don’t ask! Just don’t ask! What do we do now?” Lucy moaned. “...a sleuth of bears, a lodge of beavers, a grist of bees, a flock of birds, a sounder of boar, a brace of bucks, a rabble of butterflies...”
Peter’s face took on determined look. “There’s nothing more you can do. Walk slowly and carefully out of the door girls, and don’t look back. I’ll follow after you’re clear. Go!” he said quietly. The two queens tiptoed out of the room and waited anxiously by the door. “...a wake of buzzards, a flock of camels, a clutter of cats, a kindle of kittens, a peep of chickens, a brood of chicks, a bed of clams, a band of coyotes, a siege of cranes...”
Peter did his best to walk calmly out of the door and turned the key in the lock, much to the surprise of the guards. “King Edmund is to stay in his room. He needs his rest. If he asks where we went, you have not seen us.” The faun was an old soldier and did not question his orders, nor the slightly desperate look in the High King’s eyes. “Yes, Sire.”
Peter, Lucy, and Susan bolted down a side corridor, leaving Edmund to his monotonous chanting. “...a float of crocodiles, or a murder of crows, a leash of deer, a pack of dogs, a pod of dolphins, a drove of donkeys, a bevy of doves, a brace of ducks, a convocation of eagles...”
I'm sorry that it has taken me a while to get this up, but I have been debating how much to tell you about the movie. I will try not to spoil it for you too much. :)
Overall, I enjoyed VDT. It was much, much better than PC (especially since Caspian loses the Inigo Montoya wannabe accent!), but I think it was not quite as good as LWW.
The movie is only 1 hour and 50 minutes, the filmmakers cut out things that they could have used to flesh it out. They did get some things quite right but also added and played around with other things.
The character of Eustace was well done, he actually was not as bratty as I thought he might have been. He was actually enjoying himself there for a while. :) And Dragon Eustace was very nice. His transformation from dragon to boy by Aslan, while different from the books, was well done.
Probably the biggest problem I have is the addition of a strange green mist. The dark island is made up of this green mist and it apparently symbolyzes tempatation. The White Witch again makes an apperance as green mist, and the very stupid sea serpant that the crew struggle to keep from crushing Dawn Treader is morphed into a slightly creepy creation of the green mist which creates the epic battle of the movie.
There was also the addition of needing to find the seven swords of the seven missing lords in order to defeat the green mist. And a little girl named Gael who wants to find her mother who was swollowed up by the green mist. (Gael's father coming, good. Gael coming as an eight year old stowaway...totally unneccessary and almost distracting.)
The best part about the movie was the ending. Rheepicheep's joyful farewell and sailing away to Aslan's Country was beautiful. The Children's farewell to Aslan was beautifully sweet and sad, especially as Lucy and Edmund said goodbye to Narnia for the last time. And the filmmakers did get one thing perfectly right. Aslan's line where he told the children that he was in their world too was beautiful, perfect, sweet, sad, melencholy, hopeful and brought tears to my eyes.
I encourage all of you to go and see it. VDT needs to be supported or else this will be the last Narnia installment. The price of tickets is expensive, but it is money well spent. Merry Christmas and sail on with the Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
I have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of the 3rd movie installment of CS Lewis's "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader." While circumstances (meaning my busy school schedule and lack of money for airfare and such!) did not permit my attendance at the World Premiere in London with the Queen of England in attendance (!), I do plan on attending the opening night of VDT.
To say that I am on pins and needles would be an understatement. I have been waiting for this movie ever since the credits first rolled on Prince Caspian. Prince Caspian turned out to be rather a dissapointment. I had dearly hoped for visualization of one of my favorite passages where Aslan leads the Pevensies and Trumpkin along the the River Rush and slowly, as their eyes of faith permit, becomes visible to each. However, that was omitted, and several other unnecssary parts elaboratly added. As one of my friends recently said, "It is tolerable if you keep reminding yourself that this is an alternitative reality, like fanfiction!"
I have high hopes for VDT and trust that I will not be dissapointed. (Although, with Hollywood involved, that is a very large possibility...) There are a number very beautiful and poingant passages that, if well done, will carry CS Lewis's Christianity and amazing story into the forefront of everyone's minds and stay there, niggling at our brains and reminding all of us of who Aslan really is. I end with words from the great writer himself, CS Lewis:
""It isn't Narnia, you know," sobbed Lucy. "It's you. We shan't meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?" "But you shall meet me, dear one." said Aslan. "Are--are you there too, Sir?" said Edmund. "I am," said Aslan. "But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This is the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.""
This is one of the funniest videos I have seen in a long time, and guess what? It's intelligent and if you are still in school, you can count it for English class! (Right Mom?...) :D
When the night seems long, And day does not appear, Don’t be afraid, I am near, When you feel alone, Call to me, I will see you through, Do not fear.
You hide in the dark, Curled up in fear, You’re too afraid, To see those here with you. But you’re not alone, I am here, And I’ll never leave.
You are secure, You’re safe in me, I’m holding you, There’s naught to fear. Trust in me, I’ll see you through, Call to me, I’ll answer you.
The fire gleams, And tears outpour, You’re consumed by fear, You feel so alone, But I promised you, You’d never be alone, I am here, And I’m holding you.
Reach out your hand, Touch someone close, You’re in a living chain, That cannot break, You’re bound by love, Perfect love, That casts out all fear.
So don’t be afraid, I am near, Though darkness lingers on, I am here, You’re not alone, You never were. Just trust in me, I’ll see you through, I’ll carry you.
Hear my words, Listen for my voice, I’m calling you, Remember me. You’re safe in me, I’ll see you through, Soon this night will disappear.
You are not alone, I am here, Don’t be afraid, You are secure, I’m holding you, And I won’t let go, You’re safe in me, I’ll carry you.
The daylight gleams, Dawn is near, The darkness flees, And now you see, I’m right here, I never left, I helped you through, Just as I promised you.
So don’t be afraid, The shadows flee When the light appears. Watch for the light, I promise you, When you call for me, I’ll answer you.
So don’t be afraid, The darkness flees. Open up your eyes, To see the truth, I never left, I’ve carried you, Don’t be afraid, I’m here with you.
