Try me

I just finished watching The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

If you haven't seen it, do. I read the book 26 years ago and enjoyed it as a child, with a vague notion that it alluded to something deeper than a child's story. The movie was faithful to my memory of the book, and a powerful mix of fairy tale and very adult allegory.

Were the Catholic Church to use tools like this to communicate the message, the pews would be full. More importantly, they'd be full of people engaged in their faith, and who understood it more completely.

There were lots of lines that caught my attention, turned light bulbs on, and made me think. About temptation, faith, family, forgiveness, sacrifice, and salvation.

One of my favorites was the very end of the movie when the Professor asks the kids where they've been. Peter replies, "you wouldn't believe us if we told you." The Professor dares, "try me!"

That got me thinking. What if those of us who believe, who have faith, remain ready for those "try me" moments, when a receptive person poses a question? I've held back, not wanting to seem obnoxious and preachy. But what about a conversation, a dialogue, when someone asks "where I've been"?

Judging from the movie, the core ideas can be communicated in a way that's engaging, that gets wheels turning. And we could use more wheels turning on these ideas, and how they come up in our everyday lives, as parents, friends, and citizens.