Edmund: So, what was it like... when Aslan changed you back?
Eustace: No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't do it myself. Then he came towards me. It sort of hurt, but... it was a good pain. You know, like when you pull a thorn from your foot.
The Chronicles of Narnia
I've watched this movie a few times, and it has such an impact on me each time. Eustace is the cousin of Edmund and Lucy. He does not believe in their talk of Narnia, but is forced to see that it is a real place when the three of them are brought back to Narnia. He journeys along with them on their adventures, all the way being skeptic to every supernatural event. Finally, they reach an island, where they are tempted. Eustace is tempted as well and gives into this temptation. It turns him into a dragon. Later in the movie, Aslan changes him back and this is where the quote is from above.
Every time I have watched this movie, this scene has stood out to me. The firs time I saw it, it made me think of the healing that God does in our hearts. I thought of how we can't change our hearts, but God can and will. It may hurt, but it IS the good kind of pain. It is the restorative type. This time as I anticipated this scene in the movie I saw a larger connection in this film.
We are sinners, and we can't see our own sin. We are proud, and believe our way is the best way. Then get ourselves deep in sin. We get to the point where we cannot change ourselves. This is where Jesus comes in and heals us. It may hurt, but it is good. It is beautiful.
I think of how gentle Aslan was with Eustace. He took his claws, and ran them through the sand. As he did this Eustace was being healed. Then Eustace was picked up from the ground, utterly helpless, and brought to an area where he could help the others defeat fear.
It reminds me that when we were completely sinful, God picked us up, and made us new. He also makes all things work together for our good.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
- Romans 5:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God
- Ephesians 2:8
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.
-Romans 8:28
