Living in Narnia

 “Listen, Peter. When Aslan said you could never go back to Narnia, he meant the Narnia you were thinking of. But that was not the real Narnia. That had a beginning and an end. It was only a shadow or a copy of the real Narnia, which has always been here and always will be here: just as our own world.

The Last Battle. Copyright © 1956 by C. S. Lewis Pte., Ltd. Copyright renewed © 1984 by C. S. Lewis Pte. 

Escaping through the wardrobe to a magical land, Narnia, symbolized hope to Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, when the harsh realities of the world became too much for their young souls.

Children’s imaginations are powerful, from playing in parents’ clothing, dressing dolls, or building with Lincoln Logs.  Who made forts in the woods or backyards? Who imagined a fallen tree as a pirate ship or trains made with dining room chairs and blankets? We created our own perfect little worlds where we were in charge, with no need for technology to direct the ideas.

As Lewis writes, these creations were “shadows” of life and reality. The train roofs’ collapsed, chairs toppled over, and weather destroyed the forts. But we rebuilt them, unknowingly learning a life lesson. Thus, when our world is buffeted by life, we shore up, rebuild, and, hopefully, learn from the experience. 

So, while the present may not be Narnia, we have to power within us to recreate those magical moments because, as Lewis writes, “Narnia has always been with us.” What a beautiful thought.