INTRODUCTION: 

Vision is the perception of what words are shared and told. We all have experienced the power of story. The truth is that most of our have had stories illuminate and shape our vision most of our lives. I was recently thinking about the power of movies (moving vision) to illustrate some of the greatest stories ever told! Whether it would be Chariots of Fire, The Ten Commandments, The Prince of Egypt, or even the newest series on Jesus, The Chosen - these stories gave us a vivid depiction of the vision of the words. 

We see the creation of the word was from words and then into sight. God says and God sees. This is the pattern in Genesis 1. What would happen if we engaged the words we hear and read to become vivid vision of what’s happening in the stories. We remember hearing as a little children the power of this kind of vision happening from the story’s power. Missionaries used to show an old movie called “The Jesus Film” to people all over the world and saw them come to salvation so quickly because they saw the story instead of just hearing it. They even found the viewers themselves verbally responding to the film as they were inside of the movie. What would our vision look like if we were able to activate our vision from the words we read? 

WEEK 5: VISION FROM STORY

This week, we want to practice the art of awareness through: Vision from Story. This vision from story is going to come from reading a story out loud. Reading is often even to do quickly; but when you are reading something out loud; it’s different.  Speaking words often helps us imagine them as they are said into the atmosphere. We have chosen a powerful depiction of “the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil” in the depiction of creation of Narnia from C.S. Lewis’ magical tale, “The Magician’s Nephew.”

The Vision Activation directions are below: (Note: This can be done individually or together with family & friends)

1. Pray for eyes to see. 

2. Read the below excerpt from “The Magician’s Nephew” out loud. 

3. Were you able to see the words? Was  your imagination engaged? 

4. Ask the core questions:

• What parts of the story were more robust in your vision?

• What struck you as you read aloud? 

• How is this vision through the story revealing Jesus?

Excerpt from Chapter 14: The Planting of the Tree 

Context: The Creation of Narnia (a world within our world) is occurring. Polly & Digory have fallen into this world between worlds and have accidentally let a witch into a world at it’s beginning stages (later to be known as Narnia). Aslan, who is the Emporer’s Son and a king of Narnia, has asked Digory to retrieve fruit from a special garden. Digory declined the Witch’s temptation to take the fruit and instead he presents it to Aslan, who tells him to plant the fruit:

And while Digory was still cheering he heard the deep voice of Aslan beside him, saying: "Look!”Everyone in that crowd turned its head, and then everyone drew a long breath of wonder and delight. A little way off, towering over their heads, they saw a tree which had certainly not been there before. It must have grown up silently, yet swiftly as a flag rises when you pull it up on a flagstaff, while they were all busied about the coronation. Its spreading branches seemed to cast a light rather than a shade, and silver apples peeped out like stars from under every leaf. But it was the smell which came from it, even more than the sight, that had made everyone draw in their breath. For a moment one could hardly think about anything else.

"Son of Adam," said Aslan, "you have sown well. And you, Narnians, let it be your first care to guard this Tree, for it is your Shield. The Witch of whom I told you has fled far away into the North of the world; she will live on there, growing stronger in dark Magic. But while that Tree flourishes she will never come down into Narnia. She dare not come within a hundred miles of the Tree, for its smell, which is joy and life and health to you, is death and horror and despair to her."

Everyone was staring solemnly at the Tree when Aslan suddenly swung round his head (scattering golden gleams of light from his mane as he did so) and fixed his large eyes on the children. "What is it, children?" he said, for he caught them in the very act of whispering and nudging one another.

"Oh — Aslan, sir," said Digory, turning red, "I forgot to tell you. The Witch has already eaten one of those apples, one of the same kind that Tree grew from." He hadn't really said all he was thinking, but Polly at once said it for him (Digory was always much more afraid than she of looking a fool.)

"So we thought, Aslan," she said, "that there must be some mistake, and she can't really mind the smell of those apples." "Why do you think that, Daughter of Eve?" asked the Lion. '"Well, she ate one." "Child," he replied, "that is why all the rest are now a horror to her. That is what happens to those who pluck and eat fruits at the wrong time and in the wrong way. The fruit is good, but they loathe it ever after."

"Oh I see," said Polly. "And I suppose because she took it in the wrong way it won't work for her. I mean it won't make her always young and all that?" "Alas," said Aslan, shaking his head. "It will. Things always work according to their nature. She has won her heart's desire; she has unwearying strength and endless days like a goddess. But length of days with an evil heart is only length of misery and already she begins to know it. All get what they want; they do not always like it."

"I — I nearly ate one myself, Aslan," said Digory. "Would I -" "You would, child," said Aslan. "For the fruit always works — it must work — but it does not work happily for any who pluck it at their own will. If any Narnian, unbidden, had stolen an apple and planted it here to protect Narnia, it would have protected Narnia. But it would have done so by making Narnia into another strong and cruel empire like Charn, not the kindly land I mean it to be. 

And the Witch tempted you to do another thing, my son, did she not?" "Yes, Aslan. She wanted me to take an apple home to Mother." "Understand, then, that it would have healed her; but not to your joy or hers. The day would have come when both you and she would have looked back and said it would have been better to die in that illness."

And Digory could say nothing, for tears choked him and he gave up all hopes of saving his Mother's life; but at the same time he knew that the Lion knew what would have happened, and that there might be things more terrible even than losing someone you love by death. But now Aslan was speaking again, almost in a whisper: "That is what would have happened, child, with a stolen apple. It is not what will happen now. What I give you now will bring joy. It will not, in your world, give endless life, but it will heal. Go. Pluck her an apple from the Tree."

For a second Digory could hardly understand. It was as if the whole world had turned inside out and upside down. And then, like someone in a dream, he was walking across to the Tree, and the King and Queen were cheering him and all the creatures were cheering too. He plucked the apple and put it in his pocket. Then he came back to Aslan. "Please," he said, "may we go home now?" He had forgotten to say "Thank you", but he meant it, and Aslan understood.