Mariposa Kisses (aka Dianne's Blog)

Allowing our kids to bask in a world of make-believe and wonder is a privilege. Isn't it fun to see their eyes when we talk about Santa or the Tooth Fairy? While these beliefs are only temporary, they help them to see beyond. When we teach our kids to believe beyond the physical world, those beliefs act as gateways into the supernatural. Instead of fictional concepts acting as agents of harm, they actually aid our children in their elementary conception of the Christian faith.

While the Easter Bunny is fictional, the truths about Jesus and the cross certainly are not. By allowing them to think outside the box of empiricism, their hearts will wrap themselves around bigger spiritual concepts such as faith and eternal life. I find so much enjoyment reading C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien because of the parallels they make between the physical world and the spiritual world beyond.

In Lewis' The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, he hits the nail on the head in Lucy's character. She's incredibly witty and intelligent but her heart has room for faith. She believes because she is first allowed to enter the world of Narnia through the wardrobe. But, even when she returns to Britain and can no longer see, she continues to believe. When Peter, Susan, and Edmund first view the wardrobe to inspect its magical qualities, it appears to be a plain old wardrobe. But, Lucy's faith in what she has previously seen allows her to continue on in a state of magical wonder.

As the others remain convinced of their disbelief because they simply lack the ability to believe, Lucy too begins to doubt her own discovery. She has to test her faith by returning to the wardrobe to find it once again opened up to Narnia. Lewis wisely chooses the youngest child protagonist as the possessor of innocent faith. Jesus Himself called us to come to Him with the faith of a child.

Once the siblings evaluate the empirical evidence of Narnia for themselves, they too believe. Why not train our kids to believe before they have to see and feel the evidence in front of them? By giving our kids a foundation that teaches them to believe in fairy tales and magical worlds, they will have the proper training for applying their minds to more complex concepts of heaven and eternity later on. If they possess the ability, like Lucy, to believe while they are young, they too might believe as adults.

Though some would say that it is unethical to promote dishonest myths to our children, I see it as an injustice not to tell them about the world of make-believe. As the other three Pevensies do come around to believe, so too do most empirically minded adults in our world. Pascal was astute in his observation: "There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus." Eventually most people decide to believe. Even most of those who fight God for a lifetime turn to Him when all things come to an end. Just as Susan exclaims, "Impossible!" upon entering the magical world, she becomes one of its bravest advocates.

Just like Lewis, Tolkien provides poignant Biblical insights throughout his Lord of the Rings series. There is never ambiguity between the definition of good and evil. Nor is there any doubt of a supernatural existence beyond the physical world. The elves' longing beyond Middle Earth for the Undying Lands reflects our longing for heaven beyond this world.

Tolkien enlightens his readers throughout the text with a parallel to our physical and spiritual existence. The battle is one of bravery and of terror, as the dwellers of Middle Earth forfeit most hope of a victory. We too feel a battle raging here on Earth, as we struggle with temptation and pain. Luckily, Frodo doesn't give up. Nor is he alone, for his best friend Sam guides him with unending support and love. We too are assisted by a Helper. We are reminded in Scripture that we are filled with the Holy Spirit.

Though every turn presents great risk and turmoil, they win in the end. Eventually, Frodo gets to go beyond, along with the elves and his uncle Bilbo. Our physical world will also come to an end after its dwellers find themselves in a seemingly hopeless battle. Our leaders' names will change over the course of history, but in the end, the Ultimate Leader will return to rule His kingdom and He will take His followers HOME. The battle is already WON!