my favorite part from “The Horse and His Boy”

It wasn’t my very favorite so far, C.S. Lewis uses some names and words that were hard for me to pronounce, let alone Lucy and Claire.  At one point when Claire was trying to catch up to where we were (because lu and I had read some while she was at gymnastics), Claire proclaimed it to be “the most boring book in the world.”

I almost think that is sacrilegious when it comes to C.S. Lewis, but I will admit there were some dryer parts in this one.  BUT man oh man, there was some pretty amazing symbolism that was so beautiful it made the whole book very recommendation worthy.

To see some of the most beautiful quotes from the book, click HERE.  Some of them are so beautiful they make me tear up.

But my favorite part was when Aslan shows up and the main character (Shasta) only hears him in the fog, doesn’t see where that “large voice” is coming from.  Shasta is telling him of all his woes.  He has been on a great journey, with some terrible things that happened along the way.  Part of the mishaps (the most scary parts of the journey) involved lions who chased him and wounded his traveling companion (Aravis).

I love this part of the discussion between Shasta and the “voice” who is the lion in the fog:

“I do not call you unfortunate,” said the large voice.


“Don’t you think it was bad luck to meet so many lions?” said Shasta


“There was only one lion,” said the voice.


“What on earth do you mean?  I’ve just told you there were at least two the first night, and …”


“There was only one: but he was swift of foot.”


“How do you know?”


“I was the lion.”  And Shasta gaped with open mouth and said nothing, the Voice continued.  “I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. [he had been traveling alone in the beginning and Aravis had become a great companion]  I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead.  I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept.  I was the lion who gave the Horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time.  And I was the lion you to not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you.”


“Then it was you who wounded Aravis?”


“It was I.”


“But what for?”


“Child,” said the Voice, “I am telling you your story, not hers.


I just love that part so much.

And I love it even more because I was reading it with my girls snuggled up next to me, one into each arm.  And they looked at me in awe as I teared up.  And I got to tell them that sometimes it will be the same for them in life.

They will sometimes feel like they are being chased by lions.

They will sometimes fall.  They will fail.  They will be frustrated.  There will be sorrows.  Sometimes they will want to cry out in pain.

But God will let some of the toughest things happen.

Because He knows that’s the best way to grow.

And that growth and deep learning that will sometimes be a mystery and will make them feel forsaken is what will can eventually bring them the biggest joy.

We won’t understand everyone’s story, nor where they are coming from (although we sure should try).  But we can figure out our own with help from Above.  And that “great Voice” that will always help us out if we ask.