Feast or Famine?
In chapter 15 of Prince Caspian, C S Lewis describes the abundance of Narnia after the defeat of Miraz as "pyramids and cataracts of fruit." This wonderful turn of phrase is much more delightful to the ear than the earlier phrase, "feasts on the poop," where the Pevencies are describing their adventures at see during their first time in Narnia. Of course, the reference is to a ship's deck, not the American slang for feces. I doubt Lewis would even have had that in mind, but American readers, especially children of a certain age, would.
Which goes to show that language can be a tricky thing. The difference between pleasant feasting and famine fodder is very broad, but the same phrase can evoke both thoughts. Which is why, separated as much as we are--culturally and chronologically--from the writers of the Bible, it is easy to misconstrue what they were thinking. The Telmarines, divorced as they were from what Narnia was meant to be, had negative thoughts and feelings about "Old Narnia." Many of them did not recognize Aslan's abundance when it was set before them.
How like today when people read the accounts of Jesus and His followers from the New Testament. the thought, though usually not expressed, is that Jesus certainly was not serious in what He said about how we should live. And certainly living the generosity that was shown early in the book of Acts, and what James and Peter taught in their epistles, couldn't apply to our lives here in 21st century America.
I have a feeling many Christians today would rather take the offer of being transported to an island where we can do our thing, than live in Narnia with the strange creatures Aslan loves. The thought of feasting with Bacchus (See my post on this.) seems about as appealing as feasting on poop. But what a wonderful thing we miss when we reject those who Jesus loves to live a stilted life in seclusion.
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