God of Surprises

God is always the God of surprises.
- N.T. Wright

The other night I was talking with my dear friend, Jen, and each time we talk she tells me how much she enjoys reading The Chronicles of Narnia books. She is reading them for the first time, and it is thrilling to me to hear her reactions to the story and the way in which it was written. We usually talk about some element of the books; this time we talked about Alsan (the lion) and how he portrays different aspects of God throughout the story. The mystery, the strength, the wildness (Aslan is not a tame lion). While Aslan is not tame, he is gentle and kind, and only uses his power for good.

Jen reflected that it is how C.S. Lewis weaves these attributes into these books so beautifully, and she cannot wait to get to the parts where Aslan is there. She absorbs those parts because they are so full of wisdom.

One thing we mused on was how he is not a tame lion, which reflects God and how He is the God of surprises. God can do whatever He wants. We do not understand His ways or His thoughts. We cannot tame Him. We do not know what He has in store, and that divine mystery is something we should be joyful about, because what He shrouds in mystery is greater than any of us can even imagine.