05 April 2010

Harry Potter, Harry Potter, unh!

Sometimes reading Harry Potter is a lot like looking at baby flamingos (aww, it's just so cute). Sometimes it's a mystery.

But it's funny how your perspective can shape the words you read. In case i've seemed a little tired lately, i started rereading The Adventures of Harry Potter. Why reread HP when such amazing sagas like Twilight have been written? ...because sagas like Twilight have been written. If that sounds spiteful toward vampires and discombobulated vampire lovers, it is. It almost crosses the barrier between an insult to itself and incredibly spoof-worthy...almost...but i'm not going to bash Twilight for 3 reasons. 1. it does a pretty good job itself, 2. it's not worth my time, 3. the more attention i bring to it the more i keep it 'alive' (ironically enough)...like racism...or vampir-ism?

But back to HP, perspective, and an all-around happier world...

Year One. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. (a note to those who haven't experienced HP): I won't give anything away, promise. But if that's your main concern...goodness...it's been 13 years. Get with it. And i mean that in the kindest possible way. I want this for you.

In Chapter 4, Hagrid comes to get Harry for his first year at Hogwarts. All he was assigned to do was come in and pick up Harry and pretty much say, "let's go get you wizarded up." Little to his knowledge, he was to become much more than a chauffeur. Hagrid finds out that Harry not only doesn't know that he's a wizard, but that his auntie and uncle totally misinformed him about how his parents died and what he meant to the wizarding world. Aghast, in disbelief, frustrated with a little bit of amazement sprinkled in, Hagrid tells Harry who he is...

...and it wasn't until this time around that i thought about it from a Christian perspective. I tend to believe that most of the eyes that fall upon these words belong to people who are called to be parents and/or guardians of future generations. What a wonderful responsibility this is! But also, how many parents totally ignore their role as being, as the CCC puts it, the first educators of children...(please, read that link...it's beautiful).

For those who chose to disregard this responsibility, i'd like to think God could be a lot like Hagrid was in his Ch. 4 admonishing of the Dursleys in their failure to teach, or at the very least inform, Harry on his identity of being a ::ahem:: wizard. Look at it from the eyes of the One who is written on our hearts, especially now in this time of Easter...

His death expired our sins. His resurrection redeemed our lives...(so wouldn't we be, like, coupons?)

So i guess there are 3 things to do:
1. if you had responsible parents, be thankful. Thank them.
2. if your parents lacked in this department, forgive them...there's no use in holding grudges
3. keep this in mind for when you have kids and you get them to read the HP books. :-p

God desires us to know him. You are loved.

Peace,
DJL

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