Adventuring with Aslan
Life, in so many ways, is defined by a series of moments.
This past week I have had so many moments, still shots of memory, imprinted into my mind forever. But one in particular keeps bringing itself to the forefront of my thoughts. This past Sunday I feel that I truly began to understand and in a sense, discover, the Holy Spirit.
In my walk, the Holy Spirit has always been this floating entity that I understood to be Christ's blessing upon us, his way of staying among us while he sat beside the Father, whispering fervent prayers on behalf of those he saved. Holy Ghost seems to be the more accurate description of the Holy Spirit as I had grown to understand it. A see-through thing that floats around, groaning and moving and filling up spaces with it's presence. No doubt, I have felt the movement of the Holy Spirit, I have sensed his presence, felt indescribable peace and joy in the most unexpected of moments, but there was nothing concrete about the way I anticipated the involvement of the Holy Spirit in my life.
I attended a new church this past Sunday, and stepping into those doors, you could feel this warmth and energy that seemed to sigh the word "home". People laughed, hugged, shook hands and smiled. The service itself was so full of life and joy, I could hardly breathe, and for the first time, the pastor spoke words about the Spirit that finally hit me. Christ died, and at the final supper told his disciples that they should be glad that he was leaving, because in his going away, they would receive the Holy Spirit, Christ's gift of life. The Holy Spirit wasn't just some floating spirit, as I had always imagined, but an actual extension of God sent to Earth, a gift worthy of Christ's sacrifice! While this seems like an obvious truth, it had never before struck me in this way. The Holy Spirit was and is as real and moving as Christ was both Holy and human, living among us.
In this new understanding I sat in bed last night, praying aloud. And through my prayers the Holy Spirit became my protector, my giver of joy, the true embodiment of Christ and the Father beside me and within me on Earth. And so, the Holy Spirit is my Aslan.
Like many children I read and re-read the Chronicles of Narnia as a child. It wasn't until recently, however, that in re-reading the series, Aslan's characteristics really effected the way I viewed God. There is one scene in particular, where Lucy is talking with the Beavers, and she is hearing about Aslan for the first time.
"Is he safe?" she asks the Beavers. Mr. Beaver, laughs.
"Safe!? Of course he's not safe!" Mr. Beaver says, "But he is good."
This struck me so deeply. Christ, the Father, the Holy Spirit, my God! He is wild, unsafe, powerful, and mighty! But above all. He is good. So in my thoughts and imagination, the Holy Spirit now takes on the form of this powerful, yet indescribable beautiful lion, that both stands beside me with quiet comfort and confidence, as well as dwells within me, radiating courage and contentment.
And so my Aslan moves beside me and within me, filling me with joy, peace, fear and trembing, as I seek to work out my faith in this ever changing world.
Blessings,
~Andrea Christine
This past week I have had so many moments, still shots of memory, imprinted into my mind forever. But one in particular keeps bringing itself to the forefront of my thoughts. This past Sunday I feel that I truly began to understand and in a sense, discover, the Holy Spirit.
In my walk, the Holy Spirit has always been this floating entity that I understood to be Christ's blessing upon us, his way of staying among us while he sat beside the Father, whispering fervent prayers on behalf of those he saved. Holy Ghost seems to be the more accurate description of the Holy Spirit as I had grown to understand it. A see-through thing that floats around, groaning and moving and filling up spaces with it's presence. No doubt, I have felt the movement of the Holy Spirit, I have sensed his presence, felt indescribable peace and joy in the most unexpected of moments, but there was nothing concrete about the way I anticipated the involvement of the Holy Spirit in my life.
I attended a new church this past Sunday, and stepping into those doors, you could feel this warmth and energy that seemed to sigh the word "home". People laughed, hugged, shook hands and smiled. The service itself was so full of life and joy, I could hardly breathe, and for the first time, the pastor spoke words about the Spirit that finally hit me. Christ died, and at the final supper told his disciples that they should be glad that he was leaving, because in his going away, they would receive the Holy Spirit, Christ's gift of life. The Holy Spirit wasn't just some floating spirit, as I had always imagined, but an actual extension of God sent to Earth, a gift worthy of Christ's sacrifice! While this seems like an obvious truth, it had never before struck me in this way. The Holy Spirit was and is as real and moving as Christ was both Holy and human, living among us.
In this new understanding I sat in bed last night, praying aloud. And through my prayers the Holy Spirit became my protector, my giver of joy, the true embodiment of Christ and the Father beside me and within me on Earth. And so, the Holy Spirit is my Aslan.
Like many children I read and re-read the Chronicles of Narnia as a child. It wasn't until recently, however, that in re-reading the series, Aslan's characteristics really effected the way I viewed God. There is one scene in particular, where Lucy is talking with the Beavers, and she is hearing about Aslan for the first time.
"Is he safe?" she asks the Beavers. Mr. Beaver, laughs.
"Safe!? Of course he's not safe!" Mr. Beaver says, "But he is good."
This struck me so deeply. Christ, the Father, the Holy Spirit, my God! He is wild, unsafe, powerful, and mighty! But above all. He is good. So in my thoughts and imagination, the Holy Spirit now takes on the form of this powerful, yet indescribable beautiful lion, that both stands beside me with quiet comfort and confidence, as well as dwells within me, radiating courage and contentment.
And so my Aslan moves beside me and within me, filling me with joy, peace, fear and trembing, as I seek to work out my faith in this ever changing world.
Blessings,
~Andrea Christine
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