"There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it. His parents called him Eustace Clarence and masters called him Scrubb. I can't tell you how his friends spoke to him, for he had none. He didn't call his Father and Mother "Father" and "mother," but Harold and Alberta. They were very up-to-date and advanced people. They were vegetarians, non-smokers and teetotalers and wore a special kind of underclothes. In their house there was very little furniture and very few clothes on beds and the windows were always open."
~ The Voyage of The Dawn Treader, p.1
This is my all-time favorite start to a book. Eustace Clarence Scrubb is a memorable character. Eustace is a bossy little brat who enjoys pestering and annoying his cousins, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie. Eustace gets sucked out of our world and into a Narnian adventure with his cousins quite by accident. He joins them and their friend, Prince Caspian, on a journey of adventure to the world's end. That journey takes place on a sailing vessel known as The Dawn Treader.
Why does this book inspire me?
Besides being a great tale of adventure involving exploration and a sea voyage, there are several spiritually enriching scenes in the book. The first is the transformation of Eustace.
The redemption of Eustace from his dragon-state back to a boy state is rich with imagery. You can read the book to learn how Eustace is cursed and turned into a dragon. Eustace sinks into despair knowing that there is no way in his own power to free himself from this curse.
Eustace then encounters Aslan, the great lion, who comes to him and leads him toward a pool where uses his claws to scrape away the scaly dragon skin from Eustace. Eustace receives a deep cleansing and is set free. He is transformed. He leaves his dragonness behind and emerges as a new person.
C.S. Lewis paints a powerful image of redemption and the freedom we find in Christ. Like Aslan, Christ must move toward us and do what only he can do -- free us from the guilt and power of enslaving sin. Try as we may, we can not rid ourselves of the dragon that dwells within each of us. It is only the finished work of Christ that can accomplish the task. Through Christ we are to put off the old self and put on the new self. It is Christ that makes all things new.
"And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new."
~ Rev 21:5
"to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
~ Eph 4:22-24
That picture of the transformation of Eustace has been etched on my imagination from the moment I first read it as a teenager.
The second powerful image from this book takes place as the ship and crew approach the world's end. Who can forget the brave mouse Reepicheep and his passion to see Aslan's country first hand.
"Yes, yes," cried Reepicheep, clapping his paws together. "That's how I've always imagined it - the World like a great round table and the waters of all the oceans endlessly pouring over the edge. The ship will tip up - stand on her head - for one moment we shall see over the edge - and then, down, down, the rush, the speed -- "
"And what do you think will be waiting for us at the bottom, eh?" said Drinian.
"Aslan's country, perhaps," said the Mouse, its eyes shining. "Or perhaps there isn't any bottom. Perhaps it goes down for ever and ever. But whatever it is, won't it be worth anything just to have looked for one moment beyond the edge of the world."
~Voyage Of The Dawn Treader, The Wonders Of The Last Sea
I love the eschatological perspective that Reepicheep has. He looks forward to a time where he will see Aslan's land with his own eyes. He does not fear it. He becomes down right giddy at the thought of getting there -- even if it involves a terrifying free fall over the end of the world.
Reepicheep's faith is inspiring. His courage and trust in Aslan's goodness creates an unquenchable desire to go further up and further into Aslan's country. He doesn't look back. He does not fear what is ahead.
What will that first moment be like when we step out of this world and into the next?
Reepicheep's question is like a pebble in my shoe and yours. "Won't it be worth anything just to have looked for one moment beyond the edge of the world?"
Do you look forward to that moment with great anticipation and excitement too?