A small town church, filled with families…with Bibles in hand, voices raised in unison, praying corporately in pews, in worship together on a calm, quiet, routine Sunday morning…
A holy setting absolutely shattered as a barrage of bullets rang out. Shots and screams filled the solemn sanctuary. The calm and peace replaced with chaos, shock and horrifying terror.
This, right on the heels of last month’s Vegas tragedy. Gunfire has cut down people at movie theaters, concerts, churches, nightclubs, schools and offices.
Yet another nightmare come true. Yet another tragedy. Yet another story of innocent blood shed. Yet another headline of another madman implanting hell on earth.
Lord, WHY????
Lord, why is this happening again?
Lord…where are you?
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These past few months I have been reading to my kids the Chronicles of Narnia series.
In The Silver Chair we read about a young girl being sent on a mission, a great assignment, by the great lion, Aslan, himself.
The air between them is still, clear, and crisp. His commands and warnings are gentle, concise, simple, and direct.
High up on the mountain Aslan is close, close enough she can feel his breath as He intently speaks to her the instructions.
He says:
“Stand still.
And remember.
Remember the signs.
Say them to yourself when you wake in the morning and when you lie down at night, and when you wake in the middle of the night.
And whatever strange things may happen to you, let nothing turn your mind from following the signs.
And secondly, I give you a warning.
Here on the mountain, I have spoken to you clearly; I will not often do so down in Narnia.
Here on the mountain, the air is clear and your mind is clear; as you drop down into Narnia, the air will thicken.
Take great care that it does not confuse your mind.
And the signs which you have learned here will not look at all as you expect them to look, when you meet them there.
That is why it is so important to know them by heart and pay no attention to appearances. Remember the signs and believe the signs.
Nothing else matters.”
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The air is thick here, the weight seems too heavy to bear, the journey has taken longer than hoped, the road is filled with sorrow, confusion, pain and suffering…
Lord…where are you?
The path doesn’t at all look like I thought and I am confused.
The road is filled with sorrow and I question the truer reality.
The journey is treacherous, arduous, and pain-filled and I have forgotten the signs.
I question the instructions, I doubt the process, it hurts too much, I want to give up.
Lord…where are you?
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Remember.
Remember.
Remember the signs.