Caspian and the Bridge to Enchantment

I watched Disney’s Prince Caspian this morning with my daughter. I’ve also read the book, or rather listened to an audio version of it, performed by a talented British actress. The tale, as do all in the Narnia collection, ushers me into quite a mysterious mood of ambivalence. On the one hand, I’m elevated into a consciousness of wonder and expectation, an epic ideal inspired by the grandeur of the story, by the surreal setting, by the plight of the protagonist….the awesomeness of Aslan. On the other hand, the splendor of it all reminds me by contrast that my world consists mainly of the mundane. The day to day administrations of living in lackluster land lower my hope that life can be more than it has been, more than it is. Don’t get me wrong, there are joys and genuine moments of mystery and risk in my life, but they are ephemeral foot steps in the grand scope of the race, and they often (as do Lewis’s books) only leave me pining for a purpose that pulls me out of the ordinary and into the enchanted. I’d venture a guess that many people feel the same, especially in the West. Our craving for convenience, security, and leisure has brought on a boredom so profound that, like Dante’s purgatory, you can almost hear the collective sigh of millions searching in vain for something else – anything else.

So, what’s the answer? Do we thrill seek, get a hobby, go into online gaming, do drugs, travel, etc? While some of these may be viable vehicles for some level of vivacity, they’re only temporary solutions to a perennial problem. Prince Caspian itself may be an instructive guide for us as we consider the conquest of casual living. After a number of avenues had been either rejected or exhausted, and the advancing armies of the Telumarines were in sight, King Peter finally concedes to send Lucy into the forest to find Aslan. Of course Aslan was the answer all along, but they had to learn that lesson, unfortunately, after all else failed. Finding Aslan in the woods, Lucy snuggles up in his mane and takes comfort in his presence. He leads her back to the battle and, of course, all turns out well when he defeats the Telumarines by reanimating and enlisting the help the trees and water.

Finding Aslan in the woods… perhaps it’s the starting point for the reanimation of our seemingly torpid and tired world. After all, enchantment can only emerge with the presence of the Enchanter.