Free A Year with Aslan: Daily Reflections from The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis

shouted out, “Lucy! Lu! Where are you? I know you’re here.”
    There was no answer and Edmund noticed that his own voice had a curious sound—not the sound you expect in a cupboard, but a kind of open-air sound. He also noticed that he was unexpectedly cold; and then he saw a light.
    “Thank goodness,” said Edmund, “the door must have swung open of its own accord.” He forgot all about Lucy and went toward the light, which he thought was the open door of the wardrobe. But instead of finding himself stepping out into the spare room he found himself stepping out from the shadow of some thick dark fir trees into an open place in the middle of a wood.
    There was crisp, dry snow under his feet and more snow lying on the branches of the trees. Overhead there was a pale blue sky, the sort of sky one sees on a fine winter day in the morning. Straight ahead of him he saw between the tree-trunks the sun, just rising, very red and clear. Everything was perfectly still, as if he were the only living creature in that country. There was not even a robin or a squirrel among the trees, and the wood stretched as far as he could see in every direction. He shivered.
    He now remembered that he had been looking for Lucy; and also how unpleasant he had been to her about her “imaginary country” which now turned out not to have been imaginary at all. He thought that she must be somewhere quite close and so he shouted, “Lucy! Lucy! I’m here too—Edmund.”
    There was no answer.
    “She’s angry about all the things I’ve been saying lately,” thought Edmund. And though he did not like to admit that he had been wrong, he also did not much like being alone in this strange, cold, quiet place; so he shouted again.
    “I say, Lu! I’m sorry I didn’t believe you. I see now you were right all along. Do come out. Make it Pax.”
    Still there was no answer.
    —The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
    Do you think Edmund’s apology is sincere? When have you had trouble admitting you were wrong?

 
    F EBRUARY 22
    Talking Beasts
    C REATURES, I GIVE YOU YOURSELVES ,” said the strong, happy voice of Aslan. “I give to you forever this land of Narnia. I give you the woods, the fruits, the rivers. I give you the stars and I give you myself. The Dumb Beasts whom I have not chosen are yours also. Treat them gently and cherish them but do not go back to their ways lest you cease to be Talking Beasts. For out of them you were taken and into them you can return. Do not so.”
    —The Magician’s Nephew
    What would it mean for the Talking Beasts to go back to their former ways? How could they prevent that from happening?

 
    F EBRUARY 23
    How Can I Help It?
    S HASTA HAD SO ENJOYED HIS DINNER and all the things Tumnus had been telling him that when he was left alone his thoughts took a different turn. He only hoped now that the real Prince Corin would not turn up until it was too late and that he would be taken away to Narnia by ship. I am afraid he did not think at all of what might happen to the real Corin when he was left behind in Tashbaan. He was a little worried about Aravis and Bree waiting for him at the Tombs. But then he said to himself, “Well, how can I help it?” and, “Anyway, that Aravis thinks she’s too good to go about with me, so she can jolly well go alone,” and at the same time he couldn’t help feeling that it would be much nicer going to Narnia by sea than toiling across the desert.
    —The Horse and His Boy
    What are the excuses Shasta tells himself for not worrying about what may happen to the others? When have you left others at risk by putting your own interests first?

 
    F EBRUARY 24
    Happy Is the Horse
    A SLAN ,” SAID BREE in a shaken voice, “I’m afraid I must be rather a fool.”
    “Happy is the Horse who knows that while he is still young. Or the Human either.”
    —The Horse and His Boy
    How could knowing we are fools make us happy?

 
    F EBRUARY 25
    Deathwater Island
    G ET BACK! ” [shouted