"You do not yet look so happy as I mean you to be."
Lucy said, "We're so afraid of being sent away, Aslan. And you have sent us back into our own world so often."
"No fear of that," said Aslan. "Have you not guessed?... all of you are -- as you used to call it in the Shadowlands -- dead. 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 the 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.
Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful quotes! Although things may be getting darker, that doesn't mean we are trapped in darkness. The radiance of the Savior outshines all that might bring us despair. I'm grateful for these reminders.
I woke up way too early feeling the weight of “the dark” in the world. I reached for my phone in hopes of finding something to read that might comfort my soul. I swiped to unlock the screen and found multiple scripture references for the word “joy” just sitting there, waiting for me in the dark.
The gentle reminder was exactly what my heart needed in that moment “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)
Then, your post. Your words helped me to understand that what Elder Gong refers to as covenant belonging, is all about “feeling our way through the dark” together, until morning comes. Thank you.
When I began the journey of deciding whether or not to start this newsletter, my recurring question was "why?" Why do this? My hope was that it might bring comfort and peace to any who would subscribe. Thank you so much for sharing this. It gives me confidence to keep going.
Daniel 2:22 “He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.”
This came up today in our gospel doctrine discussion, and seemed to be very meaningful for the class. It caught my attention, and then...your thoughts.
While reading your post I pondered your questions you bullet pointed. Why? How? And your sorrow you expressed...the seeming unfairness of the darkness in the world. I too struggle in this space.
This verse is best understood in context of course and the experience of the writer, Daniel. Captivity. A yearning for Jerusalem and the temple most likely. For familiarity and smells of home. Though we know nothing of his parentage his spiritual magnitude likely came from them and this longing as well. All a part of his dark.
I feel this verse provides me a increase of hope...that Christ knows “what’s in the darkness”. Yes his own lonely experiences in a garden and those unexplainable experiences in public leading to the darkness when he died. But also how my dark may be part of my ‘but if not” also expressed by this prophet Daniel in his youth and seek and praise God for the light of the world.
This was a powerful thought you shared Scott and I’m grateful for the light it gave to my own dark lense.
If you are seeking, seek us with joy
For we live in the kingdom of joy.
Do not give your heart to anything else
But to the love of those who are clear joy,
Do not stray into the neighborhood of despair.
For there are hopes: they are real, they exist –
Do not go in the direction of darkness –
I tell you: suns exist.
--Rumi
"You do not yet look so happy as I mean you to be."
Lucy said, "We're so afraid of being sent away, Aslan. And you have sent us back into our own world so often."
"No fear of that," said Aslan. "Have you not guessed?... all of you are -- as you used to call it in the Shadowlands -- dead. 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 the 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.
--CS Lewis, _The Last Battle_
Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful quotes! Although things may be getting darker, that doesn't mean we are trapped in darkness. The radiance of the Savior outshines all that might bring us despair. I'm grateful for these reminders.
I woke up way too early feeling the weight of “the dark” in the world. I reached for my phone in hopes of finding something to read that might comfort my soul. I swiped to unlock the screen and found multiple scripture references for the word “joy” just sitting there, waiting for me in the dark.
The gentle reminder was exactly what my heart needed in that moment “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)
Then, your post. Your words helped me to understand that what Elder Gong refers to as covenant belonging, is all about “feeling our way through the dark” together, until morning comes. Thank you.
When I began the journey of deciding whether or not to start this newsletter, my recurring question was "why?" Why do this? My hope was that it might bring comfort and peace to any who would subscribe. Thank you so much for sharing this. It gives me confidence to keep going.
Daniel 2:22 “He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.”
This came up today in our gospel doctrine discussion, and seemed to be very meaningful for the class. It caught my attention, and then...your thoughts.
While reading your post I pondered your questions you bullet pointed. Why? How? And your sorrow you expressed...the seeming unfairness of the darkness in the world. I too struggle in this space.
This verse is best understood in context of course and the experience of the writer, Daniel. Captivity. A yearning for Jerusalem and the temple most likely. For familiarity and smells of home. Though we know nothing of his parentage his spiritual magnitude likely came from them and this longing as well. All a part of his dark.
I feel this verse provides me a increase of hope...that Christ knows “what’s in the darkness”. Yes his own lonely experiences in a garden and those unexplainable experiences in public leading to the darkness when he died. But also how my dark may be part of my ‘but if not” also expressed by this prophet Daniel in his youth and seek and praise God for the light of the world.
This was a powerful thought you shared Scott and I’m grateful for the light it gave to my own dark lense.
Much thanks!
Such powerful thoughts, my friend. Thank you for taking the time to share them. The only way through seems to be...through.