Months ago I purchased The Chronicles of Narnia by C.L. Lewis on Cd. I read the stories as a child and loved them but, somehow I thought I might pick up some subtle messages that I missed in my youth.

The books are unabridged and read by some wonderful actors. The stories are placed in chronological order not the order in which they were written. I do not recall what order they were written so I am listening to them in chronological order. There is a draw back to this, I have spotted a few inconsistencies. Had I heard them in the order they were written I probably would not have noticed.

I wanted to read these stories again before the movie comes out. My guess that I would pick out more of the deeper message behind the stories now then I did in my youth was quite correct. I can't help but wonder how much of that message will come across in the movie.

I lay in my bed tonight listening to Michael York read the part of the story where Aslan willing goes to the witch to be killed for Edmonds. I had tears in my eyes as I listened. All I could think about as I lay there listening is that this is not just a fairy story. The way Lewis described Aslan, how he walked, and how sad he was touched my heart. I knew that all would be well in the end Aslan would rise and defeat the witch. I had the same sense of sadness I have when I think about what it must have been like for Jesus.

The beatings, the humiliation, that very long walk, being nailed to across, and done not for his own sins but for all of us. Those that have been those that are here and those that are yet to come.

I think the deeper message that I missed when I was young and read The Lion the Witch and the wardrobe was the connection of how personal the sacrifice was. Aslan was willing to suffer for Edmonds sake, very personal. Just like Christ and what he was willing to suffer for my sake, again, very personal.