I finished the third book in the His Dark Materials series last night. As I finished, it was somewhat bittersweet as I had to leave the characters behind, much like finishing the final Harry Potter book. I'll try not to spoil too much, but be aware that if you read this post I might let some of the plot slip out.

Last night as I sat for a few minutes after I finished the book, I was really struck by the reality of our world weaved into a story of infinite worlds. I was struck by a sense of love and compassion that was found when ordinary children had a chance to do extraordinary things.

Maybe for Christians who see things as black or white, (we all have issues that we can only see right or wrong) this is a difficult story. One where the followers of the religion really mess with reality. One where "God" (who really isn't at all like our God) is put in a box to rot so that the followers can carry out their own maniacal plans.

As I was reading the end of the last book, I had one quote repeating over and over and over in my mind from Rob Bell. "What if it isn't that the story of creation happened, but that it happens..." Through a fanciful tale that had its dark moments, I feel somehow closer to understanding the divine and how the divine works within me. I am wanting to seek to be in constant communication with my soul. I want to discover the parts of me that produce goodness, courage, tenacity, overcoming adversity...

So really, I am not afraid of the Golden Compass. I think it is a shame that Christians are jumping on the bandwagon. Most I know that are planning to boycott haven't even given the books a look. I am always seeking to know more, to open my eyes to new ways to see and understand God. And I know, that last night as I finished and really felt that I was beginning to know that the story creation happens, that I am a better person for having read the series.

God doesn't ask us to do things that are easy for us. God asks us to step out in faith, not fear, and get the work done. I saw that story throughout the tale of this novel, and I am compelled to understand more, to work harder, and to really pay attention to where God is in the midst of it all.

So maybe I won't take my youth as a group to the movie, but I'll be there just after 12 this Friday to see what Hollywood has done with this world of the Golden Compass, I just hope it lives up to a sliver of the imaginary worlds that I've been living in through reading the books. I'm ready to answer questions, to ask some hard ones, and to really dive in to challenging my youth to be ok with things that other Christians may not be. Call me crazy, but I think God gave us brains for a reason...

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 05, 2007 at 3:25 PM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.