Books and Birthdays!

Before school starts, I've been commanded by my teachers to read a few books from my reading list during the summer. They say it's supposed to help lighten my load, but I have a feeling they're trying to force their ideas of year-round schooling on their students... (haha)

But I must say, at least they didn't choose the horrid books from the list; although, in my opinion, Frankenstein certainly tends to lean toward that category. Instead, I get to read the Narnia books again! Not all of them, thankfully, (considering my school schedule), just the first three.

I just finished The Magician's Nephew today. Now, I know what you're thinking: "It took her THAT long to read just two books??" All I have in response to that is one question: do you know me?

You would not believe how refreshing it is to read The Magician's Nephew again. Seeing as how I was only ten last time I read through the series, and I was trying to go through them fast. There are so many little things I didn't pick up on.

For instance, during my daydreaming moments I've been wondering how cool it would be if someone wrote a book based on (note that I said 'based on') what might have gone on between God, his angles, and the Devil before the creation of the Earth, how evil actually entered if God couldn't actually make it (since he can only make good things), and so on. Something like Paradise Lost, I suppose.

How did I not realize that all this time there's been something just like that, right under my nose?? The Narnia books!

I know that C.S. Lewis specifically states that he did not write the books for that purpose, and he does not claim that Aslan is actually personified as God, etc. (I don't remember where I read this, so I'm just going by memory. I might even have it all wrong.) So I'm not assuming that Narnia is in fact C.S. Lewis's version of Heaven, or a version of Heaven at all, and so on. But I think how he wrote the books is so beautifully similar to how our World may have come to be created. It's a beautiful picture either way.

I'm not one to cry easily, especially with books, but so many times I got misty eyed because of the picture C.S. Lewis gives us of God. Not just His attirbutes, but reminding me that there is a bigger picture than just the jobs we're sent on, or the pain we're put through, and He understands. He's crying along with us.

Bottom line, I pretty much love the character of Aslan and how he resembles God's loving and noble nature. :)

Before I wrap this up, a quick shout out to Molly!! Haappy 16th Birthday!!!!! You're an amazing amazing friend and I love you sooo much! You're personality, your laugh, and everything about you is just amazing. Don't ever change♥ :)))


Also, I've started another blog. Don't know if it's going to get to be much, but here it is. Feedback is appreciated!

Maturity

As young kids we are forever figuring out our boundaries. What we're allowed to do. Or better yet, what we're able to do. Once we realize that Mom and Dad don't control our actions as much as we used to think, we start testing our abilities to see how far we can go.

Sometimes, those kids never out grow that urge. Sometimes they just keep pushing and pushing the boundaries set by their parents until they're broken and well forgotten.

And This is where the true challenge beings.

The challenge of knowing when to STOP pushing those boundaries. When to know you've pushed too far. The moment you've had enough of a taste of the world to pull back. Pull back and stop.

This is where maturity begins.

It's not the amount of knowledge you have about a school subject, or when you've been accepted by everyone around you. It's about when you know it's time to stop. To chose what you will allow yourself to do.

Maturity is when you've set the boundaries for yourself. Not just because someone told you it's right--but because you KNOW it's right.

It's when you're able to stop your own self and ask: how far am I going to go?

That's where maturity begins. And this is what I'm starting to learn(: