GREEN MIST

Debbie and I recently watched "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" from The Chronicles of Narnia. 

In this story, Lucy, Edmund, and Eustace join Prince Caspian in an adventure to save a distant part of Narnia from an evil force that is tormenting the people. 

This evil is represented as a green mist that rolls in and plays on people's minds.  It steals people away from their loved ones and terrorizes those who remain. 

The main characters must bring together seven magic swords to defeat this force.  However, the last sword is in the stronghold of the green mist.  To retreive it, the whole crew of the Dawn Treader must face the perils of the green mist and the personal fears and crises that it will stir up.

When Lucy is faced with the green mist, she doubts her own qualities and envies the beauty of her sister, Susan.  Aslan - who represents Jesus - has to scold her for denying her own beauty and gifts.

When Edmund is overcome with the green mist, he deals with jealousy of his older brother, Peter, and also of Prince Caspian.  He is overrun with thoughts of always having to play second-fiddle. 

When Prince Caspian deals with the green mist, he deals with a fear of disappointing his father - the former king of Narnia.  He doubts his ability to rule well and with justice.

Eustace suffers most from the effects of the green mist.  It gains a stronghold in his life because of greed and anger.  Aslan is the only One who can free Eustace from the control of the green mist.

The green mist plays on personal - but real - fears and feelings!

C. S. Lewis has marvelously captured the way that Satan works in our world!

Satan works on very real fears and feelings in our lives.  He plays on our areas of greatest vulnerability.

When Satan has come against me, I have felt a paralyzing effect.  I feel overwhelmed - just as Lucy, Edmund, and Prince Caspian did.  I find it difficult to think good thoughts;  it's as though I am being consumed with the wrong thoughts. 

In the movie, Aslan is the deliverer!  But, in addition, the characters also play a vital role in protecting one another from the forces of evil.  At one point, Lucy simply interrupts one of Edmund's episodes of obsession by simply calling his name and drawing him out of his trance! 

The movie instills hope.  It points us to Christ as our Deliverer.  It also reminds us that we can play a vital role in one another's lives! 

The weekend is coming - why not watch it?