7 Days of Heaven: to become like children (Winner Update!)

the Pevensies enter Narnia in the film  Prince Caspian

i’ve always loved stories.



ever since i was a little girl, dragging ragged copies of paperbacks around like a security blanket, books have been a way to escape: a source of both comfort and adventure.  those of you who share my love of reading know this to be true — there is power in narrative, for in stories we learn of ourselves, of our world …


… and even of a world beyond.


this is what first drew me to  The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis — the desire to be transported from the dismal reality of one more boring day of summer break into a world where animals could talk, trees could sing, and  little children could rule entire kingdoms.  my kind of place.


as a teenager, when i wrestled with skepticism and abandoned my faith, it was a decidedly more adult text (this amazing book   — grab it immediately if you haven’t read it!) by C.S. Lewis that led me back to faith.


but when my best friend’s child left this world, it was Narnia — not theology —that i craved.


what beauty in such irony:  that in order to understand the answer to one of the great philosophical questions, we must reach up and pull our childhood imaginations off of the shelf, dust them off, and remember what it feels like to be in true awe — to experience Truth that cannot be contained in even the most brilliant of human minds.


we are called, in all our pride and delusions of self-sufficiency, to become like children.


i found that my beloved childhood stories, in teaching me to revel in imagination, were giving me glimpses of the beauty that we are created to behold.


Lewis wouldn’t be surprised by this.  In fact, he would argue that every single person who reads here — every single person breathing air today — has the same craving.  Not for Narnia — Narnia is fiction.


we crave heaven.  and heaven is real.



Don’t believe me?  Consider this, from Mere Christianity:

“if I find in myself a desire

which no experience in this world can satisfy,

the most probable explanation

 is that I was made for another world,”

since “creatures are not born with desires 

unless satisfaction for those desires exists.” 

(Mere Christianity, p.120)


Think of the things that you crave most here on earth.  You hunger — and there is such a thing as food.  You thirst, and there is a fulfillment for that craving as well.  But beyond the physical desires of the body, there is a craving for beauty wired deep within us that nothing in this world can fully satisfy.


Sunsets painted across the sky, or long, passionate kisses, or the sweet butter-brown dimples of a child — these things may exhilarate us, but they fall short.  They may whet our appetite, but we are never completely fulfilled.


because we are never home.


but Bane is.  let us begin this series by saying what is true:   that we are the ones to be pitied, walking here in earthly shells, where sadness and pain and death seem to loom on every street corner.


but our Bane?  he is home.


[like the words Switchfoot sang  for the Prince Caspian soundtrack]


and in the coming weeks, as we think and pray about that place where he is, let us ever be reminded that the truth of heaven is beyond  what can be said in a blog post.  No fictional place can touch its splendor.  No poetry can render it, for words fall short.  For as it is written:

“what no eye has seen, 
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived
— the things God has prepared
for those who love him”
1 Corinthians 2:9



Though we miss Bane, in our love for him we can never truly want him back.  Not here.


Because Bane is in Heaven … and  Heaven is home.



As promised in Bane’s birthday post, we will be including a giveaway at the end of each post in our “7 Days of Heaven” series.  


Today’s gift?  An all-expenses paid trip to Narnia, via the The Chronicles of Narnia Box Set: Full-Color Collector’s Edition.  Your chance to take your children (or your child-like self) on an adventure through an allegory that weaves heaven into powerful story.


To enter today’s giveaway, you may do any (or all) of the things listed below.  Simply leave a comment letting us know that you have completed one (or more, if you so choose) of the options listed below.  For each option in the list below that you complete, you should leave a separate comment, which will allow you multiple chances to win  — up to seven entries total.  Contest closes Sunday, November 7, 2010, at midnight, CST.  Winner will be selected randomly and announced on Monday, November 8.

  1. 1. Leave a comment telling us what your favorite childhood story was — or your favorite book to read to your children, if you’d rather.
  2. 2. Follow this blog by RSS feed, Google Friend Connect (in the left sidebar), or by email.
  3. 3. Grab our “Where is Bane?” button from the sidebar and post it to your blog or Facebook page.
  4. 4. “Like” Banebow on Facebook.
  5. 5. Follow keLi  on Twitter.
  6. 6. Tweet about this giveaway.
  7. 7. Mention this contest and link back to this site in a blog post.



Best of luck to you all … hoping that you will strive to be heavenly-minded this week!

 

***WINNER UPDATE***

We used Random.org to randomly select the giveaway winner …
(drumroll please… )

Result: 85   Powered by RANDOM.ORG

the 85th comment was placed by: 

mail4rosey said… Bridge to Terabitha…If you Give a Mouse a Motorcycle…and Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret were all childhood favorites.

Congratulations!  

Please send an email with your mailing address to banebow at gmail.com so we can arrange delivery of your prize.


Thanks to all who participated … what a fun walk down nostalgia lane, reading through all of those wonderful books.  And be sure to check back later in the week for another  Where is Bane? post and another giveaway!

143 Comments

  1. Audrey Chamberlain

    My favorite book is Goodnight Moon. I enjoy reading it to my daughter. I do "like" Banebow on Facebook.

  2. Joey Malone

    My favorite book(s) have to be Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would be a best seller today with his stories. My youngest daughter (Sami) would sit in my lap for hours as I read these stories out loud.

  3. Joey Malone

    Hey Keli I already follow you on twitter.

  4. Joey Malone

    And I already like Banebow on my facebook.

  5. Joey Malone

    And I retweeted your tweet about this giveaway.

  6. Joey Malone

    And I follow this blog through my Google account.

  7. Joey Malone

    And I just placed the button on my blog………….too much?

    What can I say, I like contests!

  8. frugalouis

    I just made a long comment and something happened to it…short version, Narnia was my fave!

  9. frugalouis

    Following you on Twitter!

  10. frugalouis

    Follow banebow on FB.

  11. frugalouis

    Mentioned the giveaway in our family blog. =)

  12. ky2here

    Where the Wild Things are was my favorite.

    ky2here at msn dot com

  13. ky2here

    New GFC follower kycouple2000.

    ky2here at msn dot com

  14. ky2here

    New twitter follower ky2here1.

    ky2here at msn dot com

  15. Lori

    My favorite book was called The Silly Tail book…it was a gift from my kindergarten teacher

  16. Lori

    I'm officially following this wonderful blog now 🙂

  17. Lori

    I posted the Where is Bane button on facebook

  18. Lori

    and I like Banebow on facebook 🙂

  19. agordon10

    I loved the hobbit.

  20. Amber

    I absolutely loved Charlotte's Web!

    Thank you for the giveaway 🙂
    hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

  21. Amber

    I like Banebow on Facebook – my FB name is Amanda Moore

    Thank you for the giveaway 🙂
    hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

  22. Amber

    I follow your blog with google friend connect

    Thank you for the giveaway 🙂
    hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

  23. Amber

    I follow keLiweed on Twitter – I'm @AmberGoo

    Thank you for the giveaway 🙂
    hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

  24. Alex's World

    Lets see, I had a disney book that had all these little short stories. As a child there was nothing better than curling up beside my mom at bedtime and entering this magical land. A land where one could be brought back to life by a kiss from her true love and always live happily ever after.

  25. Alex's World

    I have had that precious little boys button on my page since day one:)

  26. Alex's World

    I "like" and visit Banebow on facebook often. I think this is such an amazing organization doing extraordinary things. I can't wait to see where God is going to take it. Simply Amazing!

  27. Nicole D.

    My favorite book was The Velveteen Rabbit – my daughter likes it now as well.

  28. Lea

    I had so many favorite books growing up. Anne of Green Gables & Nancy Drew were very addicting. My favorite read now is this Blog. I follow you by RSS feed, like you on FB, follow you on twitter. I have grabbed the button & posted about this site. I have sent the link to this site to many from the beginning, so they too can enjoy your words & feel the inspiration. I look forward to each new post. Amazing work… the blog, The Banebow Foundation, the 5k & Amazing people getting this all accomplished! Amazing, I can't say it enough.

  29. mlswin@neo.rr.com

    around the world in 80 days

  30. mlswin@neo.rr.com

    around the world in 80 days

  31. randio

    My kids loved The Pokey Little Puppy.

  32. randio

    Follow on GFC

  33. randio

    I like you on FB

  34. Dana

    Keli- what can i say…my fave yet because, as you know, another one of our many soul ties is the good man, Lewis, himself. Reading about your narnia days, then the skeptical days led you to Mere Christianity…which led you back…my story exactly. Love that CS impacted someone else so strongly. And Narnia. Narnia is my favorite for sure. I am so ready for Jade to be ready to go there with me. Soon. I love them all. I have them all…so I don't need the set, but I just wanted to say this is such a great post…and of course, I did all that other stuff, too! 🙂 Love you from far away.

  35. Alyssa

    I am so excited about following this series!! I added the "Where is Bane" button to my blogspot.

  36. Tarah

    I always enjoyed the Golden Book collection when I was younger. I plan on finding them all for our kids too!

    Tarah
    tarah716[at]ymail.com

  37. Carol

    I loved The Adventures of Tom Swayer and Hulkberry Finn when I was a kid. I hope my daughter will love it to when she gets a little older.

  38. Steph

    Wow. There are so many. I loved the Chronicles of Narnia when I was a kid, it brought out a love in reading in me and I never looked back. Fantastic stories. My kids like The Cat in the Hat and pretty much any Dr. Seuss story.

  39. Chisum's Crew

    I loved Stand Back Said the Elephant I'm Going to Sneeze as a child. trinitygsd at yahoo dot com

  40. Ashley Sanders

    My favorite childhood stories would be The Wizard of Oz and Charlotte's Web. My favortie story to read to my class is Miss Rumphius. My favorite book to read to my daughter is Puff the Magic Dragon.

  41. melsywsou

    Clifford & Shel Silverstein were my favorites.

  42. Anonymous

    where the wild things are…

  43. caryn Reynolds

    brett says that this post was discrimination against people who didn't read books as children…but he did like playing with matches and pocket knives.

  44. babytrees

    I love Snow Day

    theresa _ heppner at yahoo dot com

  45. babytrees

    GFC follower

    theresa _ heppner at yahoo dot com

  46. Giant Sis

    I loved Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein!
    wilburnnewsome atyahoodotcom

  47. Melanie

    I loved a book called the Funny Little Woman. It was about a Japanese woman with a magic stirring spoon that would make rice multiply. I thought it was funny and weird at the same time

    melanieinaz2003 at yahoo

  48. shiloh

    Turandot, I read this many times to my granddaughter. Just a few weeks ago she found the book in her room and brought it to me. I consider it a treasure to keep for her to read to her child one day.

  49. Melanie

    FB @melanie b

    melanieinaz2003 at yahoo

  50. Melanie

    twitter @kaiasmommy

    melanieinaz2003 at yahoo

  51. mogrill

    I loved Miss Suzy, and now my daughter does too.thanks for the chance.
    mogrill@comcast.net

  52. Linda

    My favorite book was The Cat In The Hat.
    mintstatesportswear(at)juno(dot)com

  53. Linda

    I follow you on GFC(Linda G)
    mintstatesportswear(at)juno(dot)com

  54. McKim

    I'm a follower with GFC.

  55. Matt and Shelley

    The Giving Tree was a fav of mine. Also, Happy Birthday, Moon. Evan's favorites right now are My Lucky Day and Runaway Bunny; Kate's favorite is Goodnight Moon.

  56. michtuck

    My favorite story when I was a child was the Old Mother Goose stories. I still can recall (after 30 years) what the book looked like.
    michelle (at) harrisbb (dotcom)

  57. michtuck

    Subscribe via RSS- google reader
    michelle (at) harrisbb (dotcom)

  58. michtuck

    Follow you via Facebook- iiiyadirf (michelle tucker)
    michelle (at) harrisbb (dotcom)

  59. michtuck

    Follow keLi on Twitter. iiiyadirf
    michelle (at) harrisbb (dotcom)

  60. katfam95

    One of my favorite childrens' authors is Robert McCloskey and my favorite book by him is Blueberries for Sal. I've gone through 3 copies of his book.

  61. Tammy

    The Pokey Little Puppy!

  62. tdean30

    I had this huge book of fairy tales and we would read a different one every night.

    tdlsfm(at)gmail(dot)com

  63. Jeremy

    My favorite stories were from the Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories books.

  64. msvickik

    My favorite is probably Green Eggs and Ham! Thanks!

  65. msvickik

    I follow you on GFC =)

  66. Lori

    I'm following keli on twitter now…just for bane 🙂

  67. Anonymous

    I still Adore "Charlotte's Web"!

    theyyyguy@yahoo.com

  68. AEKZ2

    When I was a child, I loved reading The Little House on the Prairie books.

  69. AEKZ2

    I like you on FB (Estell Aekz)

  70. AEKZ2

    I follow via GFC (AEKZ2)

  71. Kerry

    I loved to read Goodnight Moon to all of my kids – there's just something about it!
    nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

  72. Drake

    My favorite childhood story would have to be Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne. I loved the action!

  73. Chip

    Right now, my favorite book to read to my kids is called "Bible Stories for Little Children". All 3 of my kids sit there listening. They get so excited when they know the stories. It's an old book written in the 1800's and very sweet.
    chipdip2010(at)hotmail(dot)com

  74. Chip

    I'm a RSS subscriber.
    chipdip2010(at)hotmail(dot)com

  75. Chip

    "Like" Banebow on Facebook – Jill L
    chipdip2010(at)hotmail(dot)com

  76. Chip

    Follow via GFC – Chip
    chipdip2010(at)hotmail(dot)com

  77. Taryn LC

    My favorite childhood book was Where The Wild Things Are… and truthfully I hate the movie.

    tarynlc86(at)yahoo(dot)com

  78. Taryn LC

    I follow you via GFC.

    tarynlc86(at)yahoo(dot)com

  79. Taryn LC

    I follow you on twitter. @taryn126

    tarynlc86(at)yahoo(dot)com

  80. mail4rosey

    Bridge to Terabitha…If you Give a Mouse a Motorcycle…and Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret were all childhood favorites.

    msurosey@yahoo.com

  81. Tracey

    My favorite childhood story was a book called Caleb and Me.
    traymona[at]aol.com

  82. Melissa B.

    My favorite book when I was young was Flowers in the Attic.

  83. dddiva @ discriminating_diva(at)yahoo(dot)com

    I loved the B is for Betsy stories by Carolyn Haywood

  84. dddiva @ discriminating_diva(at)yahoo(dot)com

    GFC

  85. dddiva @ discriminating_diva(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Where is bane button http://myloonyverse.com

  86. dddiva @ discriminating_diva(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Like on FB Sherry Conrad

  87. Heather W

    Charlottes Web
    Lovefool827 (at) yahoo (dotcom)

  88. amyd

    my favorite book to read to my boys is green egg and ham,which we have made for them to and they though it was really cool!
    ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com

  89. jsc123

    My favorite story to read to my daughter is "The Velveteen Rabbit". My mom made her a bunny to go with the story and she loves it.

    jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com

  90. amyd

    follow by gfc
    amydelong
    ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com

  91. amyd

    fb fan of yours
    amydelong
    ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com

  92. jsc123

    I am following via Google Friends Connect.

    jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com

  93. jsc123

    I am a fan via Facebook as Jill Myrick.

    jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com

  94. beckytag

    I always love reading Dr. Suess books to my kids when they were younger.
    beckytag618 at gmail dot com

  95. beckytag

    Banebow FB fan (Becky Seelentag)
    beckytag618 at gmail dot com

  96. beckytag

    Twitter follower (@beckytag)
    Oh, and your link didn't work because there were extra characters in there, but I found u!
    beckytag618 at gmail dot com

  97. susan1215

    My favorite book as a child was Charlottes Web

    s2s2 at comcast dot net

  98. susan1215

    follow via GFC

  99. susan1215

    Like you on facebook Susan Smith

  100. kathy pease

    my favorite book was eb whites charlottes web 🙂

  101. kathy pease

    google friend klp1965
    kathypease(at)gmail(dot)com

  102. kathy pease

    like you on facebook kathy l pease
    kathypease(at)gmail(dot)com

  103. susan

    I loved good night moon as a child. suelee1998 @ gmail.com

  104. susan

    I follow your blog via gfc suelee1998 @ gmail.com

  105. susan

    i LIKE Banebow on facebook suelee1998 @ gmail.com

  106. Jennifer M

    I loved my Nancy Drew series.

  107. carolpie

    I always liked A Christmas Carol. I liked how Scrooge turned from a hard hearted stingy man to one who had a complete change of heart. This is how it is when we come to the Lord-a heart change.
    I have never read these stories. I , too, have lost a child and your words brought tears to my eyes.

  108. carolpie

    I subscribed.

  109. kerri69

    I like to read Green eggs and Ham my girls love that book

  110. kerri69

    GFC follower/kerri69

  111. missrantsypants

    I enjoyed reading fairy tales with happy endings when I was a kid.

    clarkmurdock@yahoo.com

  112. Anonymous

    follow keli on twitter 9ziggy
    11newmom at gmail

  113. Jinxy and Me

    I loved the book "Jim Jump"

  114. brianpiero

    GFC Follower: Brian E.

    senorpiero [at] yahoo [dot] com

  115. brianpiero

    Following you via Twitter: @brianpiero

    senorpiero [at] yahoo [dot] com

  116. Mia J.

    My favorite book as a girl was Little Women.

    mia at jacobsracing dot com

  117. Taminar

    I have always loved to read and it's hard to pick just one favorite. One of the books I loved best was Walter Farley's "The Black Stallion." It's a story of trust, friendship and survival.

  118. Shellie & Brutus

    My favorite childhhod story was B Is For Betsy.
    fatmeatloaf1 at gmail dot com

  119. Shellie & Brutus

    Like you on Facebook
    Brutus Duffy

  120. Donna

    My fave is the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
    donna444444@yahoo.com

  121. liliesrnice

    We love to read If I ran the circus!

  122. Ardy22

    As a child I fondly remember Jack in the Beanstalk

    ardy22 at earthlink dot net

  123. Ardy22

    follow you gfc

    ardy22
    ardy22 at earthlink dot net

  124. Ardy22

    liked Banebow fb

    rich hicks
    ardy22 at earthlink dot net

  125. Ardy22

    follow keLiweed twitter

    ardy22
    ardy22 at earthlink dot net

  126. Atreau

    My favorite childhood story was The Ugly Duckling.

  127. masonsgranny59

    My favorite story was about joseph and his coat of many colors in the bible.

  128. masonsgranny59

    "Liked" Banebow on Facebook.
    j mahurin

  129. Gianna

    I used to like to read calvin & hobbes and now that's what my daughter enjoys.

  130. purango

    My favorite childhood story was Green Eggs & Ham. garrettsambo@aol.com