DannyHesterly

What Stars are made of...

I promise, not all my blogging will consist of me sharing about my "Narnia Findings." But if you'll follow me with this thought I think you'll find truth to it. So King Caspian, who has been on a quest to find the "7 Lost Lords of Narnia," has landed on a magical island where he and others stumble upon "Aslan's Table." Here food is prepared every day for travelers to regain their strength. It's at this time they meet Ramandu. He's an aged man with a white beard to his ankles, but what is particularly mesmerizing about him is how light seemed to shine from within and then out around him. 

Ramandu begins to explain that he is a fallen star who was brought to this magical island to regain his strength until he is young again to grace the skies with his splendor. Eustace makes a comment about how in our universe a star is made up of gasses. Ramandu agrees, but makes a remarkable statement, "yes that's true, but even in your universe that is only what a star is made of, NOT what a star is.

You and I are made up of cells, bones, organs, etc, but who we really are goes so much deeper than that. I get excited to know that my purpose goes far beyond than just existing. For me, my job title is just that. A title. It defines what I do, but doesn't truly define who I am. So my question for you is...who are you? Where do you find your identity in? What does your heart cry out for you to be? For you to become?

Drinkable Light...

For the past two weeks I've been listening to the Chronicles of Narnia "Voyage of the Dawn Treader", by C.S. Lewis. Near the end of Edmond, Lucy, and Eustace's adventure into Aslan's country they begin noticing how unbearably bright the sky grew and how clear the water beneath the boat became. So clear one could see straight down to the bottom. Reepicheep, the most valiant and loved mouse in all of Narnia, jumps off the side of the ship straight in the water. He is eventually pulled out of the water and back onto the ship. To Reepicheep's astonishment he ecstatically proclaims to everyone that the water is SWEET! King Caspian takes a drink and orders everyone on board to do the same. This water instantly filled their insides with an overwhelming sense of joy and peace and what was unbearable light before had now become bearable. 

As I listened to this, my heart was filled with joy and wishing I had some of the water to drink right then and there. I began wondering how many people around us have hearts full of sadness and worry who are in desperate need of this "drinkable light". 

What I love about this imagery is we find in scripture that Christ is this Light. He is the one who is capable of bringing healing to the broken, love to the neglected, and peace to those whose lives are topsy-turvy. Then I had this crazy thought...can we be this "drinkable light" to those who are broken, neglected, or confused? Do we have this capability of filling their hearts with joy and peace? You bet we do! Everyday we, who are called imitators of Christ, possess this amazing Love and Light of Christ. We have opportunities to shine this joy and peace to those in and outside our sphere of influence. May today, tomorrow, next week be filled with opportunities to be this "drinkable light."