Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Good Morning!

Hope you are doing well.

Here's another thought from the movie. Edmund's betrayals of his family to the White Witch seemed to me to be motivated by one of two impulses -- his own selfishness (he wanted Turkish Delight, and was motivated by the idea of being King over his brothers and sisters) and his desire to please the Witch (to keep on her good side).

In particular, the two times he betrayed his group -- once with Mr. Tumnus in the prison, and secondly with the fox out in the woods, he gave in due to a lack of strength. Mr. Tumnus and the fox both were in danger, but they both were willing to lay down their lives in order to protect those that the Witch was searching for. However, in both cases, Edmund didn't have that strength, and as soon as felt any pressure at all, he gave up information to the Witch.

I think this angle on Edmund's story brings into focus our need to be strong in order to resist the call of the devil that are all around us, and how our own selfishness often is the key that is used to bring down our resistance to his call. Edmund was centered on himself - what he wanted, what he thought he needed -- while everyone else - Mr. Tumnus, the Beavers, Peter, Lucy, Aslan -- were centered and motivated about the needs of others. At the end of the movie, Edmund does something unselfish for the first time in the movie, and he almost dies from his wounds, but he is healed.

Holding over the scripture from yesterday to today, because I think that it really speaks to the issue about Edmund. For most of the movie, nothing that he did was done in love, other than love for himself. While the others around him lived this verse, Edmund did not, until the end of the movie. I think that the movie provides great example of people living out this verse, and adds some fuel to the discussion we had earlier this year -- what is the opposite of love? Selfishness?

Today's Scripture

Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Today's prayer request: The mother of a friend of Megan's

From Megan: "A prayer request....Jessie Newsome..and her family....this is the mother of a friend of mine...she suffered a massive stroke on Friday and is not responding to anything.... "

Today's class member prayer:

Susanne Russell

Have a great day.

Jay