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| the Pevensies enter Narnia in the film Prince Caspian |
ever since i was a little girl, dragging ragged copies of paperbacks around like a security blanket, books have been a way to escape: a source of both comfort and adventure. those of you who share my love of reading know this to be true — there is power in narrative, for in stories we learn of ourselves, of our world …
… and even of a world beyond.
this is what first drew me to The Chronicles of Narnia 
as a teenager, when i wrestled with skepticism and abandoned my faith, it was a decidedly more adult text (this amazing book — grab it immediately if you haven’t read it!) by C.S. Lewis that led me back to faith.
but when my best friend’s child left this world, it was Narnia — not theology —that i craved.
what beauty in such irony: that in order to understand the answer to one of the great philosophical questions, we must reach up and pull our childhood imaginations off of the shelf, dust them off, and remember what it feels like to be in true awe — to experience Truth that cannot be contained in even the most brilliant of human minds.
we are called, in all our pride and delusions of self-sufficiency, to become like children.
i found that my beloved childhood stories, in teaching me to revel in imagination, were giving me glimpses of the beauty that we are created to behold.
Lewis wouldn’t be surprised by this. In fact, he would argue that every single person who reads here — every single person breathing air today — has the same craving. Not for Narnia — Narnia is fiction.
Don’t believe me? Consider this, from Mere Christianity:
“if I find in myself a desire
which no experience in this world can satisfy,
the most probable explanation
is that I was made for another world,”
since “creatures are not born with desires
unless satisfaction for those desires exists.”
Think of the things that you crave most here on earth. You hunger — and there is such a thing as food. You thirst, and there is a fulfillment for that craving as well. But beyond the physical desires of the body, there is a craving for beauty wired deep within us that nothing in this world can fully satisfy.
Sunsets painted across the sky, or long, passionate kisses, or the sweet butter-brown dimples of a child — these things may exhilarate us, but they fall short. They may whet our appetite, but we are never completely fulfilled.
because we are never home.
but Bane is. let us begin this series by saying what is true: that we are the ones to be pitied, walking here in earthly shells, where sadness and pain and death seem to loom on every street corner.
but our Bane? he is home.
[like the words Switchfoot sang for the Prince Caspian soundtrack]
and in the coming weeks, as we think and pray about that place where he is, let us ever be reminded that the truth of heaven is beyond what can be said in a blog post. No fictional place can touch its splendor. No poetry can render it, for words fall short. For as it is written:
Though we miss Bane, in our love for him we can never truly want him back. Not here.
Because Bane is in Heaven … and Heaven is home.
As promised in Bane’s birthday post, we will be including a giveaway at the end of each post in our “7 Days of Heaven” series.
Today’s gift? An all-expenses paid trip to Narnia, via the The Chronicles of Narnia Box Set: Full-Color Collector’s Edition
To enter today’s giveaway, you may do any (or all) of the things listed below. Simply leave a comment letting us know that you have completed one (or more, if you so choose) of the options listed below. For each option in the list below that you complete, you should leave a separate comment, which will allow you multiple chances to win — up to seven entries total. Contest closes Sunday, November 7, 2010, at midnight, CST. Winner will be selected randomly and announced on Monday, November 8.
- 1. Leave a comment telling us what your favorite childhood story was — or your favorite book to read to your children, if you’d rather.
- 2. Follow this blog by RSS feed, Google Friend Connect (in the left sidebar), or by email.
- 3. Grab our “Where is Bane?” button from the sidebar and post it to your blog or Facebook page.
- 4. “Like” Banebow on Facebook.
- 5. Follow keLi on Twitter.
- 6. Tweet about this giveaway.
- 7. Mention this contest and link back to this site in a blog post.
Best of luck to you all … hoping that you will strive to be heavenly-minded this week!
***WINNER UPDATE***
We used Random.org to randomly select the giveaway winner …
(drumroll please… )
Result: 85 Powered by RANDOM.ORG
mail4rosey said… Bridge to Terabitha…If you Give a Mouse a Motorcycle…and Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret were all childhood favorites.
Please send an email with your mailing address to banebow at gmail.com so we can arrange delivery of your prize.
Thanks to all who participated … what a fun walk down nostalgia lane, reading through all of those wonderful books. And be sure to check back later in the week for another Where is Bane? post and another giveaway!
My favorite book is Goodnight Moon. I enjoy reading it to my daughter. I do "like" Banebow on Facebook.
My favorite book(s) have to be Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would be a best seller today with his stories. My youngest daughter (Sami) would sit in my lap for hours as I read these stories out loud.
Hey Keli I already follow you on twitter.
And I already like Banebow on my facebook.
And I retweeted your tweet about this giveaway.
And I follow this blog through my Google account.
And I just placed the button on my blog………….too much?
What can I say, I like contests!
I just made a long comment and something happened to it…short version, Narnia was my fave!
Following you on Twitter!
Follow banebow on FB.
Mentioned the giveaway in our family blog. =)
Where the Wild Things are was my favorite.
ky2here at msn dot com
New GFC follower kycouple2000.
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New twitter follower ky2here1.
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My favorite book was called The Silly Tail book…it was a gift from my kindergarten teacher
I'm officially following this wonderful blog now 🙂
I posted the Where is Bane button on facebook
and I like Banebow on facebook 🙂
I loved the hobbit.
I absolutely loved Charlotte's Web!
Thank you for the giveaway 🙂
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com
I like Banebow on Facebook – my FB name is Amanda Moore
Thank you for the giveaway 🙂
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com
I follow your blog with google friend connect
Thank you for the giveaway 🙂
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I follow keLiweed on Twitter – I'm @AmberGoo
Thank you for the giveaway 🙂
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com
Lets see, I had a disney book that had all these little short stories. As a child there was nothing better than curling up beside my mom at bedtime and entering this magical land. A land where one could be brought back to life by a kiss from her true love and always live happily ever after.
I have had that precious little boys button on my page since day one:)
I "like" and visit Banebow on facebook often. I think this is such an amazing organization doing extraordinary things. I can't wait to see where God is going to take it. Simply Amazing!
My favorite book was The Velveteen Rabbit – my daughter likes it now as well.
I had so many favorite books growing up. Anne of Green Gables & Nancy Drew were very addicting. My favorite read now is this Blog. I follow you by RSS feed, like you on FB, follow you on twitter. I have grabbed the button & posted about this site. I have sent the link to this site to many from the beginning, so they too can enjoy your words & feel the inspiration. I look forward to each new post. Amazing work… the blog, The Banebow Foundation, the 5k & Amazing people getting this all accomplished! Amazing, I can't say it enough.
around the world in 80 days
around the world in 80 days
My kids loved The Pokey Little Puppy.
Follow on GFC
I like you on FB
Keli- what can i say…my fave yet because, as you know, another one of our many soul ties is the good man, Lewis, himself. Reading about your narnia days, then the skeptical days led you to Mere Christianity…which led you back…my story exactly. Love that CS impacted someone else so strongly. And Narnia. Narnia is my favorite for sure. I am so ready for Jade to be ready to go there with me. Soon. I love them all. I have them all…so I don't need the set, but I just wanted to say this is such a great post…and of course, I did all that other stuff, too! 🙂 Love you from far away.
I am so excited about following this series!! I added the "Where is Bane" button to my blogspot.
I always enjoyed the Golden Book collection when I was younger. I plan on finding them all for our kids too!
Tarah
tarah716[at]ymail.com
i loved charlottes web
mverno@roadrunner.com
I loved The Adventures of Tom Swayer and Hulkberry Finn when I was a kid. I hope my daughter will love it to when she gets a little older.
Wow. There are so many. I loved the Chronicles of Narnia when I was a kid, it brought out a love in reading in me and I never looked back. Fantastic stories. My kids like The Cat in the Hat and pretty much any Dr. Seuss story.
Tweeted
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I loved Stand Back Said the Elephant I'm Going to Sneeze as a child. trinitygsd at yahoo dot com
My favorite childhood stories would be The Wizard of Oz and Charlotte's Web. My favortie story to read to my class is Miss Rumphius. My favorite book to read to my daughter is Puff the Magic Dragon.
Clifford & Shel Silverstein were my favorites.
where the wild things are…
brett says that this post was discrimination against people who didn't read books as children…but he did like playing with matches and pocket knives.
I love Snow Day
theresa _ heppner at yahoo dot com
GFC follower
theresa _ heppner at yahoo dot com
I loved Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein!
wilburnnewsome atyahoodotcom
I loved a book called the Funny Little Woman. It was about a Japanese woman with a magic stirring spoon that would make rice multiply. I thought it was funny and weird at the same time
melanieinaz2003 at yahoo
Turandot, I read this many times to my granddaughter. Just a few weeks ago she found the book in her room and brought it to me. I consider it a treasure to keep for her to read to her child one day.
FB @melanie b
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twitter @kaiasmommy
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I loved Miss Suzy, and now my daughter does too.thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
My favorite book was The Cat In The Hat.
mintstatesportswear(at)juno(dot)com
I follow you on GFC(Linda G)
mintstatesportswear(at)juno(dot)com
I'm a follower with GFC.
The Giving Tree was a fav of mine. Also, Happy Birthday, Moon. Evan's favorites right now are My Lucky Day and Runaway Bunny; Kate's favorite is Goodnight Moon.
My favorite story when I was a child was the Old Mother Goose stories. I still can recall (after 30 years) what the book looked like.
michelle (at) harrisbb (dotcom)
Subscribe via RSS- google reader
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Follow keLi on Twitter. iiiyadirf
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One of my favorite childrens' authors is Robert McCloskey and my favorite book by him is Blueberries for Sal. I've gone through 3 copies of his book.
The Pokey Little Puppy!
I had this huge book of fairy tales and we would read a different one every night.
tdlsfm(at)gmail(dot)com
My favorite stories were from the Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories books.
My favorite is probably Green Eggs and Ham! Thanks!
I follow you on GFC =)
I'm following keli on twitter now…just for bane 🙂
I still Adore "Charlotte's Web"!
theyyyguy@yahoo.com
When I was a child, I loved reading The Little House on the Prairie books.
I like you on FB (Estell Aekz)
I follow via GFC (AEKZ2)
I loved to read Goodnight Moon to all of my kids – there's just something about it!
nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net
tweeted: http://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/1018641298497536
nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net
My favorite childhood story would have to be Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne. I loved the action!
Right now, my favorite book to read to my kids is called "Bible Stories for Little Children". All 3 of my kids sit there listening. They get so excited when they know the stories. It's an old book written in the 1800's and very sweet.
chipdip2010(at)hotmail(dot)com
I'm a RSS subscriber.
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"Like" Banebow on Facebook – Jill L
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Follow via GFC – Chip
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My favorite childhood book was Heidi….loved it!! grammypenny@frontier.com
My favorite childhood book was Where The Wild Things Are… and truthfully I hate the movie.
tarynlc86(at)yahoo(dot)com
I follow you via GFC.
tarynlc86(at)yahoo(dot)com
I follow you on twitter. @taryn126
tarynlc86(at)yahoo(dot)com
Bridge to Terabitha…If you Give a Mouse a Motorcycle…and Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret were all childhood favorites.
msurosey@yahoo.com
My favorite childhood story was a book called Caleb and Me.
traymona[at]aol.com
My favorite book when I was young was Flowers in the Attic.
I loved the B is for Betsy stories by Carolyn Haywood
GFC
Where is bane button http://myloonyverse.com
Like on FB Sherry Conrad
Charlottes Web
Lovefool827 (at) yahoo (dotcom)
my favorite book to read to my boys is green egg and ham,which we have made for them to and they though it was really cool!
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
My favorite story to read to my daughter is "The Velveteen Rabbit". My mom made her a bunny to go with the story and she loves it.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
follow by gfc
amydelong
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fb fan of yours
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I am following via Google Friends Connect.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
I am a fan via Facebook as Jill Myrick.
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I always love reading Dr. Suess books to my kids when they were younger.
beckytag618 at gmail dot com
Banebow FB fan (Becky Seelentag)
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Twitter follower (@beckytag)
Oh, and your link didn't work because there were extra characters in there, but I found u!
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My favorite book as a child was Charlottes Web
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Like you on facebook Susan Smith
my favorite book was eb whites charlottes web 🙂
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like you on facebook kathy l pease
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I loved good night moon as a child. suelee1998 @ gmail.com
I follow your blog via gfc suelee1998 @ gmail.com
i LIKE Banebow on facebook suelee1998 @ gmail.com
I loved my Nancy Drew series.
I always liked A Christmas Carol. I liked how Scrooge turned from a hard hearted stingy man to one who had a complete change of heart. This is how it is when we come to the Lord-a heart change.
I have never read these stories. I , too, have lost a child and your words brought tears to my eyes.
I subscribed.
I like to read Green eggs and Ham my girls love that book
GFC follower/kerri69
I enjoyed reading fairy tales with happy endings when I was a kid.
clarkmurdock@yahoo.com
follow keli on twitter 9ziggy
11newmom at gmail
I loved the book "Jim Jump"
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Following you via Twitter: @brianpiero
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My favorite book as a girl was Little Women.
mia at jacobsracing dot com
I have always loved to read and it's hard to pick just one favorite. One of the books I loved best was Walter Farley's "The Black Stallion." It's a story of trust, friendship and survival.
My favorite childhhod story was B Is For Betsy.
fatmeatloaf1 at gmail dot com
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Brutus Duffy
http://twitter.com/fatmeatloaf1/status/1500498981027840
My fave is the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
donna444444@yahoo.com
We love to read If I ran the circus!
I follow on twitter.(donnak4)
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I follow on GFC.
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As a child I fondly remember Jack in the Beanstalk
ardy22 at earthlink dot net
follow you gfc
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I "Like" Banebow on Facebook.
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liked Banebow fb
rich hicks
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follow keLiweed twitter
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black beauty ty.
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My favorite childhood story was The Ugly Duckling.
My favorite story was about joseph and his coat of many colors in the bible.
"Liked" Banebow on Facebook.
j mahurin
I used to like to read calvin & hobbes and now that's what my daughter enjoys.
My favorite childhood story was Green Eggs & Ham. garrettsambo@aol.com