…whatever the Lady had intended by telling them about Harfang, the actual effect on the children was a bad one. They could think about nothing but beds and baths and hot meals and how lovely it would be to get indoors. They never talked about Aslan, or even about the lost prince, now. And Jill gave up her habit of repeating the signs over to herself every night and morning. She said to herself, at first, that she was too tired, but she soon forgot all about it. And though you might have expected that the idea of having a good time at Harfang would have made them more cheerful, it really made them more sorry for themselves and more grumpy and snappy with each other and with Puddleglum.
–C. S. Lewis, The Silver Chair (New York: Macmillan, 1953), pp. 77-78.
I was a Chronicles of Narnia kid, and of all the books I think this one taught me the most about living the Christian life. When I was reading it again to my kids, this part again struck me as very powerful. I am reminded of one of my favorite hymns:
—
Christian, do not seek repose.
Cast your dreams of ease away.
You are in the midst of foes,
Watch and pray, watch and pray.Wicked forces, evil powers
Gathered in unseen array:
they wait for your unguarded hour,
Watch and pray, watch and pray.
Hear, above all, hear your Lord,
Love Him, serve Him, and obey:
Treasure in your heart His Word,
Watch and pray, watch and pray.
Watch as if on that alone
Hung the issue of the day.
Pray that victory shall be won,
Watch and pray, watch and pray.
A video rendition may be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liu6zHnbY54&feature=related