{"id":4197,"date":"2012-11-28T14:57:23","date_gmt":"2012-11-28T22:57:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cslewis.org\/blog\/?p=4197"},"modified":"2012-12-05T16:17:55","modified_gmt":"2012-12-06T00:17:55","slug":"my-time-in-narnia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cslewis.org\/blog\/my-time-in-narnia\/","title":{"rendered":"My Time in Narnia: The C.S. Lewis Retreat at Camp Allen"},"content":{"rendered":"

Crystal \u00a0Sullivan Hurd kindly gave us permission to repost a blog post she wrote after attending the 2012 C.S. Lewis Retreat in Navasota, Texas. \u00a0The original post appeared on her blog and can be found at\u00a0http:\/\/crystalhurd.com\/?p=474<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

At the conclusion of\u00a0The Voyage of the Dawn Treader<\/em>, Lucy and Aslan have an important exchange:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cOh Aslan,\u201d said Lucy. \u201cWill you tell us how to get into your country from our world?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI shall be telling you all the time,\u201d said Aslan. \u201cBut I will not tell you how long or short the way will be; only that it lies across a river. But do not fear that, for I am the great Bridge Builder. And now come; I will open the door in the sky and send you to your own land.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cPlease, Aslan,\u201d said Lucy. \u201cBefore we go, will you tell us when we can come back to Narnia again? Please. And oh, do, do, do make it soon.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cDearest,\u201d said Aslan very gently, \u201cyou and your brother will never come back to Narnia.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Aslan!!\u201d said Edmund and Lucy both together in despairing voices.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou are too old, children,\u201d said Aslan, \u201cand you must begin to come close to your own world now.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt isn\u2019t Narnia, you know,\u201d sobbed Lucy. \u201cIt\u2019s you. We shan\u2019t meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut you shall meet me, dear one,\u201d said Aslan.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAre \u2013 are you there too, Sir?\u201d said Edmund.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI am,\u201d said Aslan. \u201cbut there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019m not one to contradict Aslan, but\u00a0<\/em>I have discovered a portal to Narnia.\u00a0 You cannot tarry there long, three or four days perhaps. But it is a world away from this one (figuratively speaking) and full of the whimsical individuals who honor Aslan and Lewis, and most importantly, Christ.<\/p>\n

That place is Camp Allen, a retreat center in Navasota, Texas,\u00a0a short distance\u00a0from Houston.\u00a0 Every year, the C.S. Lewis Foundation hosts The C.S. Lewis Retreat there, welcoming writers and readers from all over to discuss, reflect, learn, and\u00a0share. The Retreat runs from Friday evening to Sunday morning (with early sessions on Thursday evening and Friday morning).\u00a0 I was excited to attend, but I didn\u2019t know the blessing awaiting me there which far exceeded my expectations.<\/p>\n

My adventure began on Thursday evening, with a \u201cSprinklings\u201d meeting during which members shared some of their work. We read together, laughed together, celebrated together, and made\u00a0deep connections. On Friday, we attended great sessions and concluded the evening with a wonderful time at Bag End, an open mic experience which welcomed artistic expressions from various members of the crowd.\u00a0 Saturday followed with more great sessions and a performance by the Ad Deum Dance Company, with a return to Bag End for poetry and musical performances.<\/p>\n

It is extremely difficult for me to articulate how wonderful the Retreat was. On a practical level, the sessions were incredibly helpful and interesting. I took copious notes about the importance of social media, the writing process, how to rebound after failure,\u00a0and the importance of writing in community. Diana Glyer, author of\u00a0The Company They Keep<\/em>, was a marvelous instructor (among many others), melding faith and art together\u00a0seamlessly and with great wisdom.<\/p>\n

On a social level, I chatted with other aspiring writers about their processes and their obstacles (many of them shared).\u00a0 I made life-long friends. As a Lewis fan, it is hard to find someone who can chat with you about Lewis and not think you are a\u00a0raving lunatic. I have Lewis\u2019s name on my car tag, Narnia posters in my classroom, Narnia paraphenalia in my home office, and Lewis references littered\u00a0throughout my conversations.\u00a0 I have been called \u201cthat Lewis\u00a0lady\u201d and probably names much worse\u00a0when I was out of earshot. \u00a0I have\u00a0accepted\u00a0that I\u2019m\u00a0an\u00a0\u201dodd bird\u201d who would rather read a novel than scavenge through\u00a0Pinterest or watch _____________ (Honestly, I watch so little television that I don\u2019t\u00a0even know what popular show to reference here). The\u00a0Retreat gave me an opportunity to connect with other bookworms and Lewis fans.\u00a0 It was a surreal experience, and one which reminded me that I am not alone on my journey.<\/p>\n

On a creative level, I was challenged and enriched. My phone was silent and my mind and hand were occupied, scribbling various ideas and verses of poetry. It was my Walden, my escape from the shackles of modern culture and responsibilities which characterize our adult lives.\u00a0 For a few days, I can step away from the heaps of laundry and\u00a0from dishes which call from the\u00a0sink\u00a0to be cleaned.\u00a0 I don\u2019t have to give the dog her thyroid pill. I don\u2019t have to pack the lunches or grade essays for work.<\/p>\n

I can strip all of that away and just be Crystal for once.<\/strong>\u00a0Not the lady who runs at a dizzy pace to complete her tasks, but the one who sits patiently and waits\u00a0for the Muse to arrive, who finds a deep joy and ecstasy as words fill the page. She is the one who grew up reading and wants to return the favor by writing.\u00a0 Ideas are reciprocal and therefore writing is necessary.\u00a0 I anticipate these moments, and relish them when they come at long\u00a0last with great pleasure.<\/p>\n

\"Copyright
Copyright 2012 by Crystal Hurd. Used by permission.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Finally, on a spiritual level, I was blessed beyond measure. If ever there was a place where God is present in art, it is here. There are a multitude of ways to illustrate your love and adoration for God, and art (using pens, paintbrushes, instruments) is a wonderful avenue of expression.\u00a0A blank page, an empty canvas, measures awaiting notes \u2013 all of these are opportunities to praise our Savior. God is indeed the architect of such good things.<\/p>\n

In addition, there was a religious plurality there which defies denominations and dogma. The world would benefit greatly by taking a hint from The C.S. Lewis Retreat.\u00a0 It is proof that when we see ourselves primarily\u00a0as sons and daughters of Christ before [insert denomination] -ists or -ans, we can erode the layers of discrimination which have haunted the Church for centuries. There is no pretense, no condescension,\u00a0only appreciation.\u00a0 The family of God is so wide and so wonderful.\u00a0 There is beauty in that diversity which we neglect when we scurry to our own church doors and often away from blended brethren.\u00a0What good could come in the world if we all came together and united under one banner for Christ?\u00a0It was a time of fellowship that has surpassed any other which I have experienced in my life.<\/p>\n

I urge you to attend one of the Foundation\u2019s events in the coming months and years. I have found it to be spiritually and creatively nourishing.\u00a0 Even if you don\u2019t \u201cwrite\u201d, but love authors like Lewis or\u00a0Tolkien (or even books in general), I highly recommend this conference.<\/p>\n

The door to the wardrobe stands ajar.\u00a0 Now is a good time to look beyond the fur coats which block our entranceway, press forward, and arrive at a greater\u00a0understanding.<\/p>\n

–Crystal<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Crystal is a writer, reader, public school educator, and adjunct professor.\u00a0 She is happily married with three beautiful Terriers (adopted from local shelters).\u00a0 She is a certified book nerd who loves to read and research works involving faith, literature, art, and leadership.\u00a0 You can visit her webpage \u00a0www.crystalhurd.com<\/a>\u00a0, friend her on Facebook, (Crystal Sullivan Hurd) and follow her on Twitter:\u00a0 @DoctorHurd and @hurdofficial.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Crystal \u00a0Sullivan Hurd kindly gave us permission to repost a blog post she wrote after attending the 2012 C.S. 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