Pere-huh?

Flying coffins, a Green Lady, a possessed frog killing man? Sound like the plot of a religious book? Perhaps not, but for C. S. Lewis it is. C.S. Lewis wrote three science fiction novels but tucked obscurely underneath the apparent storyline is in intricate analogy of the Fall of Adam and Eve, the Atonement of Christ, and the redemption of man. Before reading the book I had been told by others that the Fall was a theme of the book so as I read the first few chapters I tried (largely unsuccessfully) to make connections between characters in the book and individuals involved in the Fall. But as I continued to read I realized that many of the characters were not actually symbolic of real people, but only types of them. One of the things that stood out to me the most from the book was how the Green Lady (symbolic of Eve before the Fall) was able to receive almost direct, uninhibited communication from Maleldil (Christ). I realized that in the Garden of Eden, before the veil was drawn, Adam and Eve were in the presence of God and could communicate with Him directly. What an incredible experience that would be and must have been! But, something amazing I have been discovering over the last few years of my life, is that as we are obedient and pure, we can qualify to hear the voice of the Lord clearly in our own life, even if we are not directly in His presence. The things that have helped me to hear the voice of the Lord more clearly have been 1) a strong, consistent desire to hear His voice 2) asking the Lord specifically for His guidance 3) asking for the ability to discern His voice and 4) for the courage and power to follow the direction I receive. As I have diligently sought His voice, I have felt greater peace and confidence and an increased desire to do His will. What a blessing it will be for us if we learn to recognize His voice here, so we will know His voice when we meet Him again.