“Lucy immediately stepped into the wardrobe and got in among the coats and rubbed her face against them, leaving the door open, of course, because she knew it would be foolish to shut oneself into any wardrobe. Soon she went further in… ‘This must be a simply enormous wardrobe!’ thought Lucy, going further in and pushing the soft folds of the coats aside to make room for her… Next moment she found that what was rubbing against her face and her hands was no longer soft fur, but something hard and rough and even prickly… A moment later, Lucy found that she was standing in the middle of a wood at night-time with snow under her feet and snowflakes falling through the air. Lucy felt a little frightened, but she felt very inquisitive, and excited as well… She began to walk forward, crunch-crunch over the snow and through the wood toward the other light. In about ten minutes she reached it and found it was a lamp-post.”
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Lucy discovered a mysterious wardrobe, which transported her and her three siblings – Peter, Susan, and Edmond – into the magical world of Narnia. Our mission statement here at JH Classical Academy includes the word discover. We exist to help students discover and fulfill their God-given potential. What does discover mean? Well, the word discover is defined as “finding something or someone unexpectedly in the course of a search” or “to obtain sight or knowledge for the first time.”
“In the course of a search” implies a journey, like Lucy’s adventures in Narnia. “Finding something unexpectedly” suggests there is a secret to uncover. The fur that was rubbing against Lucy’s face was no longer soft fur but something rough and prickly. What was it? “To obtain knowledge for the first time” ushers in new visibility. Lucy was standing in the middle of a wood with snow under her feet and flakes falling in the air. Our teachers are here today to begin the adventure of discovery alongside your children.
Lucy felt “a little frightened, but very inquisitive, and excited as well.” I hope you feel the same way. When we harmonize opposite feeling we must see reality in its entirety, forcing healthy reasoning that pursues knowledge and truth in the face of questions. The wardrobe felt enormous to Lucy, and it was. The soft fur turned hard and rough, and even prickly. But, “Lucy found herself arm-in-arm with a strange creature as if they had known one another all their lives… Lucy thought she had never been in a nicer place!”
Our teachers are walking through the wardrobe with their students today. The adventures begin! It won’t be easy: Lucy and her siblings had to triumph over the evil White Witch and her Turkish delights. But it will be good: Aslan came back to life and reestablished peace with his good authority.
Thank you for allowing us to wonder alongside your children. It is a great privilege to know our students and discover the secret ways God has formed them for good.