I went to the cinema recently and had a wonderful surprise. I saw a poster advertising a film due out at the end of March. The film is called ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’ and it’s based upon a series of children’s books by Enid Blyton. The reason I looked at the poster with delight is that these were among my favourite books as a child. Not so well known – today at any rate – as Noddy, the Famous Five or the Secret Seven, the Faraway tree books tell the story of an enchanted tree with curious individuals living in it and magical lands that appear at its top on a rotating basis.
Three children her books about discover the tree and embark on a series of adventures. As I was reminded of characters and scenes from the stories; of Silky and Moonface and Saucepan Man; of toffee shock sweets that grow and grow in your mouth; of the slide that ran inside the tree from top to bottom; and the constant need as you climbed the tree to watch out for Dame Washalot’s dirty water crashing down towards you.
Forgive me my revelries but I wonder what your favourite books were as you were growing up. What fragments of memories would come to your mind were I to name them?
And that led me on to thinking about the books contained within the Bible. What characters or stories do you remember from its pages? Or perhaps you’ve never opened it to take a look? Books like the Magic Faraway Tree create impossibly different fantastical worlds for children of all ages to enjoy. The Bible might have felt like that, too, if you last encountered it as a child but millions of Christians the world over would testify to their belief that it isn’t fantasy but real world stuff that can be life transforming.
If they’re right, maybe now is the time for you to get more familiar with its characters and stories, particularly if you’ve never read it or haven’t picked it up in years. Start with the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John – what are known as the Gospels telling the life story of Jesus – and see where it takes you. You might be wonderfully surprised!
Prayer: Lord God, Help me to see the Bible as YOUR book, full of your wisdom and something through which you speak to people like me. Help me to read it with enthusiasm and with eyes that are open to see and ears that are open to hear all that it would say to me. Amen.