Thursday, June 9, 2011

DRAGON SCALES

Last week, I started a post with these words:

I am pale.

This week, I'm starting with these words:

I am peeling.

Yes, I am a topographical map of various colors right now – brown, white, and pink. My upper chest and arms look like they have a serious case of dandruff that got lost. I'm a mess.

The pain has subsided – only to be replaced by an incessant itching. And trust me, a woman scratching her upper chest in public can get you some pretty odd looks...

Beyond the physical ramifications of trying to get that "healthy tan" two weeks ago, there's the lovely little voice in my head I have to listen to – (how come our inner voices have to be such nags, anyway??)

"You're so dumb. You should have known you were going to get burned."

"Heard of that new invention – sunscreen?"

"You always think you know better, don't you?"

"You're probably going to get skin cancer now."


Inner voice is a tyrant sometimes.

So, I've been itching and scratching and flaking and peeling.

It just never seems to stop.

But, of course, God provided a wonderful lesson in all of this. (He's not a nag, by the way – but He's pretty persistent!)

I was reminded of a scene in the book, "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" – from the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. (Some of you might have seen the recent movie…)

In it, a very selfish, unpleasant boy – hey, let's call it like it is – he's a brat – named Eustace finds himself separated from his shipmates on a lonely island. He discovers a dying dragon – who just happens to have a treasure horde of priceless riches.

Eustace decides to make the treasure his own – once the dragon dies, of course!

Reveling in his pride and selfishness, Eustace finally falls asleep – only to awake with an excruciating pain in his arm. You see, that's because Eustace has fallen asleep with a human-sized bracelet that now tightly encircles a dragon-sized arm.

Yes, Eustace has turned into a dragon.

He tries numerous times to scratch off the scales of his "dragon-ness" – and they do start to fall to the ground. But every time, when he finally stops, he realizes the awful truth – he's still a dragon. Finally, he encounters Aslan, the Great Lion, and realizes he needs help:


"Then the lion said – but I don't know if it spoke – You will have to let me undress you. I was afraid of his claws, I can tell you, but I was pretty nearly desperate now. So I just lay flat down on my back to let him do it.

The very first tear he made was so deep and I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I've ever felt. The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off…

And there was I as smooth and soft as a peeled switch and smaller than I had been. Then he caught hold of me – I didn't like that much for I was very tender underneath now that I'd no skin on – and threw me into the water. It smarted like anything but only for a moment. After that it became perfectly delicious and as soon as I started swimming and splashing I found that all the pain had gone from my arm. And then I saw why. I'd turned into a boy again."


Yes, while I was frantically scratching at my own peeling "scales," I realized that I was indeed helpless to remove the scales from my heart.

Do you ever feel encrusted by life?

Well, I certainly do.

And yes, I want those scales removed.

But only One can do that – and it's going to hurt. It's going to cut deep. But oh, won't it be worth it to be a child again?

I'm laying down for the Lord to do His work – will you join me?


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

10 comments:

  1. Once again, you see the message in your experiences like so few are able to do. I sort of pictured you peeling back some layers of skin and suddenly having that "Eureka!"

    You figured out how to make the painful (burn) and the annoying (itch) thing that glorify God.

    When I peel it all back, I realize that most of my scales are of my own making, just like Eustice.

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  2. Sharon....this is a fabulous read...perfectly written...so much so....I couldn't stop reading. Great message. You are an amazing writer of truths.

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  3. I will join you...and your writing amazes me.

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  4. My oh my Sharon... let those dragon scales fall from your chest... skin and my eyes! To God be the glory!

    I love the Chronicles of Narnia and how you shared a great lesson from this all time favorite! You are such a talented writer. Aslan loves to speak through you! Aslan IS on the move!

    So "What is the connection between gladness and solemness?"

    Love and hugs,
    Peggy
    Aye, there's the rub, perhaps one of these words
    in your question is the FF?!?

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  5. joining with you, Sharon! I definitely want to be modeled to who he wants me to be, no matter how painful the process might be! (hope you are putting lots of lotion on your skin, LOL :)

    and now we are stuck in our June gloom, at least down here.....

    betty

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  6. Thank you for bringing me back to my favorite moment in my favorite book in the entire Narnia series. Parables and allegories don't get more true to life then that, do they?

    Yes Lord! Peel it all away - even when it hurts, even when it's frightening, it's worth it!

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  7. "Sharon Sharing God" has been included in this weeks Sites To See. I hope you like the image I featured, and I hope this helps to attract many new visitors here.

    http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2011/06/sites-to-see_10.html

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  8. Count me on too - but know I have quite a bit!

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  9. Debbie - Oh, so well said. Yes, our scales do tend to be of our own doing, don't they? I'm always a little hesitant to let God "have at it" - I just know it's going to hurt. However, the pain is better than being encrusted...(by the way, you had an accurate picture of me!)

    Nikki - Thank you so much. I find that I'm always looking for some sort of word picture to capture a spiritual lesson. And God, in His loving faithfulness, always seems to show me something wonderful. Who knew sunburn had so much to say?! :)

    Anita - Thank you. And I am honored to have you laying it all down for the Lord alongside me. Hold on, it's probably going to hurt - but then, we'll be free of the scales...

    Peggy - I can think of few compliments that mean more to me than to hear that Aslan speaks through me - thank you for that. I went a different direction with FF this week - used a word that I've been dealing with. However, the idea of solemness/gladness would have much to say about dealing with grief, don't you think?

    Betty - I don't think there's enough lotion to go around! I've been using (here's a blast from the past) Noxema and Sea Breeze! The menthol seems to help. Glad to know that I've got pals laying down with me on this one! There's going to be a lot of scales... :)

    Joan - YAY! Another buddy on the floor! I want to be free of scales, free from distractions and entrapments. And the only One who can do that is the Lord - with His perfectly aimed claw of Truth. Praying for the strength to bear the pain it takes to become all He wants me to be.

    Paula - Oh boy! I was so excited to read that this was someone else's favorite part in their favorite book! I have always loved this part. And yes, this is absolute Truth - very close to home. Yes, it's painful and frightening to be in the hands of the Lion - but more terrifying to be all bound up in scales. I'm laying down for Him - because though He isn't safe, He's good!

    Fish Hawk - WELCOME! Thank you for stopping by, and for featuring my blog on your site. I did appreciate the image - Aslan is such a favorite character of mine - because I love the Lion of the tribe of Judah - Jesus! It's all about Him!

    Sandie - It's OK. I'm a scaly mess, too. God is not daunted by this. He has the ability to get down to those innermost layers. So, here we go together!

    GOD BLESS!

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)