Through the Wardrobe Again - Balancing Imagination with Truth

One of the primary goals of education is to teach children how to read. Obviously, reading paves the way for holistic learning and is essential in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding, regardless of the discipline. When teaching children how to read, however, we must also be very mindful of the medium for their learning. What children are reading is just as important as teaching them how to read.

Content is key. In many cases, it is king. Content has the capacity to rule the minds of readers, especially when they are children. This is why the American church must wake up and pay attention to what children are reading because far too often they have been learning how to read from sources clearly contrary to Biblical values and even, at times, common sense.

As a kid, I wasn’t much of a reader. I was known as a “talker” and often in trouble for socializing far too much. So, regarding reading… I had to be flat-out bribed. But when I first opened The Chronicles of Narnia in fourth grade for a class assignment, something changed almost instantly. The magic of this story drew me in long before I came close to discovering any meaning. As a nine-year-old girl, I reluctantly stepped into this mythical wardrobe, convinced I was just reading another children’s story. But within minutes, this literary classic transformed me. Reading wasn’t boring homework anymore. It became an exciting adventure through a winter wonderland. Immediately, I went from a reluctant reader, who would much rather chat with almost anyone about the latest jelly shoes and Trapper Keepers, to one completely entranced by a fantasy world filled with anthropomorphic creatures engaged in an epic battle.

C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe awakened my imagination. It also offered me an escape into a world far removed from the world around me. Page by page, the adventures of Lucy, Peter, and Mr. Tumnus brought me joy far sweeter than any Turkish Delight. I couldn’t grasp the deeper symbolism embodied within the text, but the seeds of truth were already being planted in my mind one chapter at a time.

A couple of decades later, I made my first trip to Oxford (Lewis’s intellectual headquarters for many years) and the location commonly believed to be his source of inspiration. Arriving at Oxford was like stepping into another wardrobe. This wardrobe, though, led to Lewis’s world.

The first few days in Oxford took my breath away. As I strolled past the palatial college buildings, I found myself constantly in awe at the impressive stone towers. Block by block, I became increasingly enthralled by these massive works of craftsmanship built without the luxuries of modern technology. Every majestic tower, chapel, archway and courtyard, regardless of the college they belonged to, were powerfully symbolic indicators of centuries of tremendous intellectual and spiritual growth. One thing was clear in this old English city… There once was a time when Christianity dominated culture.

This was especially obvious the day I explored the college where Lewis spent much of his career. I wandered through the cloisters of Magdalen College, taking in the abundance of white hydrangeas in full bloom, picturing Lewis walking and nerding out about philosophy and the meaning of life with Tolkien and Dyson along Addison’s Walk. While enjoying fish and chips at the Lamb and Flag pub, I imagined the Inklings discussing theology and literature at a corner table in a room reserved for their weekly fireside chats. I felt the weight of his legacy when I stared up at the red flowers in the window boxes of Lewis’s old residence within the “New Building.” He was more than a professor. He was a pilgrim on his own journey of faith who used his mastery of language to help millions navigate the uncertainties and complexities of life. Walking where Lewis once walked, I sensed the immense gravity of his calling: to translate eternal truths into tales that encourage wonder, shape virtue, and foster faith.

C.S. Lewis once wrote to his goddaughter, 'Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.' His insight is more than nostalgia; it’s a reminder that imagination is essential, not childish. In many ways, fairy tales are temporary escape routes from reality. But they are also windows into some of the most profound and meaningful realities of life.

Re-reading this classic as an adult, especially after exploring Oxford, made Aslan’s sacrifice resonate with the power of Christ’s own. The battle between good and evil within the text no longer felt like an allegorical lesson; it was a poignant reminder of the spiritual struggle, the cosmic battle that the Bible describes. Lewis’s genius was that he didn’t force these realities on readers through his fictional writing, but instead, invited readers of all ages to discover these truths for themselves.

What began for me as a childhood escape has evolved into an adventure of faith. It also became a conviction to share:

We need a new generation of storytellers today, people who know how to artistically communicate the truth with boldness and love.

We need Christian writers, like Lewis, who can awaken wholesome wonder and imagination because we live in a world where both are becoming increasingly warped by secular culture.

We need a renewed commitment to inspire children (and the child in us), with exciting stories that reinforce basic moral principles, instill timeless virtue, and convey absolute truth.

We need literature that creatively and courageously highlights the obvious differences between fact and fiction and, at the same time, clearly distinguishes right from wrong.

Our nation, and the world for that matter, is hungry for beauty, meaning, and significance. C.S. Lewis created a realm where these coalesced together in a profoundly impactful way while leading others to the only One who can truly satisfy.

We need creative and godly thinkers like Lewis who will carry the torch, pick up the pen, and take minds through new wardrobes.

And we especially need to provide our children with literature in all of our schools, public, private, and within the home that will teach them (and remind us) of who we are, Who we belong to, and how He expects us to live in this amazingly adventurous and beautiful world.