Eustace the Dragon and Me

I was on a long car ride with the kids, again. Bryan had asked to listen to the Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis. We have the Focus on the Family reader’s theater on CD. I was driving along listening to “Voyage of the Dawn Treader” when God decided to rock my world. I’ve read these before, and I’ve even heard a sermon or two on this topic, so it wasn’t brand new. But it has been a long time since I have thought about it and it was a very profoundly applicable reminder to my current stage.

There is a boy named Eustace who is less then pleasant to be around. Instead of trying to be helpful in the midst of a dangerous and even stressful situation he does nothing but complain, be as disagreeable as possible, and place blame on everyone but himself for the situation he is in. In a bizarre twist to the story, he realizes he has turned into a dragon. After much soul searching and self-reflection, he is able to recognize the yuck of who he is and begins to change. He finds himself near of pool of water with Aslan, (the God figure of the Narnia chronicles). Aslan tells him he needs to get undressed before he can go in to the water.

Eustace is confused by this as he recognizes that he is a dragon, and is wearing no clothing. Then he realizes that he has dry scales that he can shed like a snake and he begins to scratch them off. So he begins the shedding process. It is hard and uncomfortable, but he removes the outer layer. Still Aslan tells him to get undressed. Again he scratches, this time harder and deeper. It is more painful, requires more energy and he gets the next layer off. This same cycle is repeated 3 or 4 times. Then he realizes, he can’t remove the layers alone.

Aslan tells him "You will have to let me undress you." But like all of us, there is fear in this statement. We know it will hurt. We know we will have to really change, we know that if we agree to this, we need to see it through.

Aslan offers, Eustace accepts. It is deep and painful. Agonizing at times. But he comes out on the other side of the process whole and human again. The transformation not complete, but started, to be continued in his coming choices. He is raw, and tender, but he knows it is so much better than how he was before.

I need to ask and allow God to remove my layers. I have created layer upon layer of comfort, pleasure, selfishness and entitlement. I want to change. I know it will be painful. But here I sit as a dragon, wondering if I really want it so bad that I will go through all of the process necessary.

Am I a dragon, pondering my future? Even though I know it is better to be who God has created me, do I like my wings, and my ability to breath fire? Or am I willing to give all of that up, to be who I am in Christ? Am I willing to give up the pleasures of this world, the vacations I want to go on, the “easy” family life of 2 kids - near school age, the time I spend watching movies, checking email and doing things that do not have eternal purpose?

Or am I really willing to painfully commit to let those dreams go, to die to myself, as I pledged to do all those years ago, to trust that what God has for me is better. Do I love Jesus so much that I love the things he loves in a way that pours out of me instead of feels like sacrifice.

Lord make me willing to ask for you to remove my layers. Prepare me for the immediate costs and stay by my side through the process. Thank you that you will be there to guide me on the other side of it.