Talking To Aslan

I teach Bible study in my home.
We meet every other Thursday.
Some of us have been studying God’s Word together for over eighteen years.
We have prayed for each other and supported each other.

There is a woman who comes to Bible study with her grandson.
He was quite little when he first came.
He would nap on his Grandma’s lap while we studied the Word.
He loves whatever I bake and usually enjoys whatever is on his Grandma’s plate.

Now, seven months later, he plays on the floor with toys that belonged to my children.
The same toys they played with then, and my grandchildren play with now, he enjoys.
He would wait for me to walk back to the play corner of our family room with him.
Now, he walks over to the play corner and chooses toys by himself.

He is so content to play in the family room while we are all in the kitchen.
He can see us and we can see him.
For over an hour, he plays and imagines.
I hear his voice as he pretends and makes the toys talk.

This past week I was intrigued.
He found the Narnia figures I bought many years ago.
They were sold for a short time after The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe movie came out.
They were a favorite in our house and are now being enjoyed by another generation.

This sweet boy is two-years-old.
I am not sure if he knows C.S. Lewis’ famous story.
There are board books of the story, which perhaps has been read to him.
Even if he didn’t know the characters’ actual names, he was drawn to the lion.

His Grandma remarked, as they were getting ready to leave: He was talking to Aslan.
I was teaching but I could see him as he played and imagined.
Did he know about the Stone Table?
Did he know about Aslan sacrificing himself in Edmund’s place?

“Is he—quite safe?” I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.” (Susan)

“If there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.” (Mrs. Beaver)

“Then he isn’t safe?”  (Lucy)

“Safe? . . . Who said anything about safe? Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King I tell you.” (Mr. Beaver)

Aslan is not a tame lion. He is not safe. But he’s good.
And this sweet boy was drawn to him.
I thought about that as I cleaned up when the women left my home.
I want that to be true for so many more people.

Aslan is the Christ figure in the story.
Like Jesus, he died in another’s place.
Like Jesus, he was humiliated and killed only to come to life again.
Like the stone that was rolled away, showing the empty tomb, the Stone Table cracked.

J.R.R.Tolkien wrote about a similar theme in The Return of the King.
Is everything sad going to come untrue? (Samwise Gamgee)
A great Shadow has departed. (Gandalf)
As C.S.Lewis writes, Aslan is on the move. (Mr. Beaver)

I thought about this sweet boy as he talked to Aslan.
I thought of the great Lion who is not safe but who is good.
I thought of Jesus.
Jesus, the Lamb who was slain; Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
(Jeremiah 33:3)

Who knows what the precious little boy said to Aslan?
The important thing is he was talking to him without even being aware of us in the next room.
Can we be that innocent and trusting with the real Aslan…with Jesus?
Can we talk to Him no matter who is around and talk to Him without fear?

Jesus is on the move.
Jesus can be trusted.
Jesus is ready to listen.
Jesus is good.

So good.