Having read "Waking the Dead," I have found that perhaps the best way for me to view the coexistance of the physical and the spiritual worlds, is to remember my myths. The sense of wonder, the feeling that beyond this curtain of "reality" is something infinitely deeper and more powerful, is based in truth. This method of reminding myself of some of the awe of the supernatural is very useful to me, and may be to others of a similar temperament or love of fantasy and fairy stories. I just have to keep in mind the line between the real (spiritual) and the make-believe (myth).

I have collected some quotes, from books, movies, etc, to remind me of the importance of living each day in light of eternity. Many of these I discovered or rediscovered in "Waking." Some are of my own choosing. For each quote, I searched out a suitable background picture and font in order to print them out and post them on my walls. Below each quote here is a link to a GIF image of the finished product. The quality isn't the greatest, but it may inspire you to create your own. Click on the number (which is the size in kb of the file) to see the picture and quote.

For most of the quotes, I have also written a short description explaining what the quote means to me.

Not all the quotes are attributed to their originator. This is not intentional; if you know who said it, let me know. Both quotes and pictures are used merely for edification, not for material gain, so hopefully whoever owns them will live and let live. I hope these are a blessing to you!

-Lily

Eldredge quotes or invents this (I'm not sure which). It refers to Frodo, of "The Lord of the Rings." It also applies to the life of every Christian. Fate (God) has chosen us and given us a task that we alone are designed to do. A Fellowship (the body of believers, especially those closest to us) will protect us, through prayers, emotional support, and more. We cannot do it alone; each of us has a gift that others need. Evil (in the form of Satan) will hunt us. The more we walk in the path that God has laid out, the more we let Him use us, the more threatened the enemy will feel, and the harder Satan will press. Praise God we have not only the fellowship of His family, but His own support and protection as well!

* * *

Live Mythically (the following are all on one page)
Myth is a lane down which we walk in order to repossess our soul.
–Clyce Kilby

Rum thing, all that about the Dying God. Seems to have really happened once.
-Griffiths

If ever a myth had become fact, had been incarnated, it would be just like this. … Here and here only in all time the myth must have become fact…
-C. S. Lewis

Myths reveal to us what we are capable of.
–David Whyte
60

These explain a little of the essence of this whole myth-truth thing. The Lewis quote refers to the Christ.

* * *

Teach a man a rule and you help him solve a problem;
Teach a man to walk with God and you help him solve the rest of his life.
-John Eldredge
106

* * *

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
–Nelson Mandela
120

My mother doesn't like this quote, but I feel it's very true. Perhaps it depends on your outlook. To me, knowing that Jesus has given us "all power in heaven and on earth" is both reassuring and frightening - it means we will be held responsible for how we use it. Not just corporately - individually. The use or misuse of power is at the heart of a lot of plots, fairy-tale or otherwise. How am I using God's power today?

* * *

The following are all on one picture; for the story behind them, read Reached.

Whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
–II Cor. 3:16-18

"Shine
The unveiled faces
Reflect the knowledge of Christ
Shine
Crushing the shadows..."
(a song lyric, the origin of which is lost to time - tell me if you know!)

The Light shines in the darkness.
And the darkness has not overpowered the Light.
John 1:5
159

* * *

The matrix is everywhere. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.
123

This ties in to something Lewis wrote in "The Screwtape Letters." We see the physical world as solid and three-dimensional and very real, but spirits (such as the demons in the book) see it as it really is - not an illusion, but temporary and only part of the true reality. The physical world is important, yes, and the choices we make while we're here are eternally imporatant, but what will remain after all the money and disease and art and ugliness is burnt away is the eternal soul, and the eternity it's chosen.

* * *

The glory of God is man fully alive.
—Saint Irenaeus
85

ie, not a man worrying about bills and the kid's hockey stats and mumbling a prayer in church while wondering where the life and excitement of his faith went

* * *

-My lord, you called me. I come. What does the king command?

-Walk no more in the shadows, but awake!

-I will, my lord. For who would lie idle when the king has returned?
131

From "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King": Faramir has fallen into shadow because of the breath of the ringwraith and the despair caused by his father. Aragorn, with the healing power of the king, calls him back to the waking world. Let us also be awake to the purposes of the King!

* * *

"There is no war" is the subtle—but pervasive—lie sown by an enemy so familiar we don’t even see him.
-John Eldredge

“Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not.”
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (movie)
258

* * *

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
	And I must follow, if I can,
Passing it with eager feet,
	Until it joins some larger way,
Where many paths and errands meet.
	And wither then?  I cannot say.
J.R.R. Tolkien

The way through the world is more difficult to find than the way beyond it.
-Wallace Stevens
150

Not just a warning that suicide is the easy way out, the Stevens quote is also true in a spiritual sense. Not only must we make Christ Lord, we must die to self daily, and follow in the path He sets out. While it is indeed the best for us, and while we can depend on Him to give us strength and surprise us with joy in the place he's designed us for, it can often look like the much harder way!
Notice how "Road" is capitalized in Bilbo's walking song. If you don't get it, see John 14:1-7.

* * *

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
-Ephesians 6:10-18
216

This stood out to me because I was doing a Bible study on faith (Beth Moore's "Believing God" - do you actively believe Him, or just believe in Him?). Paired with the picture, I love it! sidenote: Aside from one sex scene, I highly recommend "Hero," the movie the picture is from. This particular scene/picture matches the power of the verse, if not the actual wording.

* * *

Be kind, for everyone you know is facing a great battle.
–Philo of Alexandria
76

Another "Hero" picture, and a wonderful quote to remember when the schmuck in the hot rod cuts you off at rush hour. Well, sometimes it works, anyway!

* * *

Do you think I am trying to weave a spell? Perhaps I am, but remember your fairy tales. Spells are used for breaking enchantments as well as inducing them. And you and I have need of the strongest spell that can be found to wake us from the evil enchantment of worldliness which has been laid upon us for nearly a hundred years.
-C. S. Lewis
72

This is one of my arguments for children's fantasy, including Harry Potter. Rowling is not in the same league with Lewis and Tolkien - in fact, I'd say the two of them have separate leagues as well - but the underpining values and truths in Rowling's series are much the same. Sometimes we need a reminder about the supernatural to come in a story about just that. At least, it works for me.

* * *

"I can help you, Draco... [Lord Voldemort] cannot kill you if you are already dead. Come over to the right side, Draco, and we can hide you more completely than you can possibly imagine."
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

For you died, and your life is now hidden in Christ in God.
Colossians 3:3
108

Draco is trying to work up the hate to kill Dumbledore - if he doesn't, he and his family will be killed by Voldemort. Dumbledore, who loves each of his students, including Draco, offers mercy rather than begging for it. He does not want Draco to suffer the agony of being a murderer, even more than he wants to live himself. His offer of mercy to his potential murderer might be seen as just tricky psychology by the world, but to Christians it hints at the love of God. In Christ's sacrificial death, as in Dumbledore's, our debt to the Dark Lord is paid off. But unless we accept his help, die to the world, and hide in him, we are still fair game to the Evil One. Do you want to know how to be freed from the power of evil? E-mail me, or ask at a local Christian church.

It doesn't matter it you're a Draco, a Luna, or a Harry - we all need God's forgiveness.