This introduction to Camp Luther’s 2020 theme was recently shared in The Breeze, our newsletter published each spring and fall. Written by Kardia, our Director of Programs.
The Chronicles of Narnia is an incredible series of books. But my favorite book in the entire series is The Silver Chair. And it’s because it has one of my all-time favorite characters in any book—Puddleglum the Marshwiggle.
In The Silver Chair, to give you the cliffs notes version, two kids from our world—Jill and Eustace—have been brought to the land of Narnia by Aslan, the great lion who is the representative for Jesus in the Narnia series. Aslan has brought them to Narnia to help find the lost heir to the throne, Prince Rilian, who has been missing for over six years. So they set off on this quest, accompanied in their task by a guide—the aforementioned Puddleglum.
A Marshwiggle is kind of like a frog-man: humanoid, but with amphibious characteristics. Puddleglum constantly expects the worst to happen, but remains brave and fiercely loyal in spite of his pessimistic outlook and cautious demeanor.
So our heroes set off on their quest, and through a series of adventures discover that Prince Rilian has been held under an enchantment all these years by a witch in her underground kingdom. They’re captured while trying to rescue Prince Rilian and are taken prisoner deep underground with seemingly no way of escape.
And this is where the crux of the story happens. Puddleglum, Jill, Eustace, and Prince Rillian are all imprisoned in this underworld kingdom. The evil Queen arrives, and she attempts to put them all under her spell. She’s an enchantress and has the power to confuse and befuddle the minds and hearts of ordinary men. And so she sets about to convince our friends that there is no land called Narnia, no world above, no sunshine, no stars, no Aslan. That it was all a dream they had made up. That the only land that exists is the one they are stuck in.
And it’s working. They fight against her words, but gradually Narnia is becoming just the faintest of memories, in the face of the Queen’s power and enchantment—and that’s when Puddleglum makes his move. He gathers up his strength and courage and tells her this:
“Suppose we have only dreamed all these things—trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that’s a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We’re just babies making up a game, if you’re right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That’s why I’m going to stand by the play-world. I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can, even if there isn’t any Narnia. So, thanking you kindly for our supper, if these two gentlemen and the young lady are ready, we’re leaving your court as once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives looking for the Overland. Not that our lives will be very long, I should think; but that’s a small loss if the world’s as dull a place as you say.”
It's the best part of the book. And one of the best moments of the whole series. In the face of all reason, and everything his eyes were showing him, and all that his present situation and circumstances seemed to indicate, Puddleglum chose to hold onto hope.
Why? Because Narnia was worth it. Because Aslan was worth it.
Our theme this year at Camp Luther is Press On. We’re going to be using this theme to talk about what it looks like to press on towards Jesus in a world that’s often filled with darkness and brokenness and fear. Pressing on means persevering through trials and difficulties and hardships because the goal is worth it. And the hope we can hold onto as Christians is that Jesus is worth it.
This was a truth the Apostle Paul discovered. Paul was someone whose life completely changed because of Jesus. He had everything go for him—status, respect, esteem, and acclaim—and he left it all to pursue Jesus Christ. In return he faced jail, beatings, shipwrecks, and eventually death. But once Paul met Jesus, there was no going back.
In Philippians 3, Paul is talking about his journey and how the sole purpose of his life now is to know Jesus more, so that he can be like Jesus more. And towards the end of this section, he writes these critical words: “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (Philippians 3:12)
Why does Paul press on? Because of Jesus. Because Jesus has already taken hold of him. Because Jesus has already made him his own. Because nothing in this world compares to the meaning and purpose and life that Paul has found in Jesus Christ.
We were created to be with Christ. Your life is only whole when he enters your story. My encouragement for you is to remember that Jesus Christ took hold of you when he died on the cross. He said you are mine, and your story is mine, and your difficulties—they’re mine too. And so we can Press On knowing that Jesus is with us every step of the way.