Polar Express Analogy

Polar Express is one of our favorite Christmas movies. I got to watch it again at school this year on Polar Express day, and I realized some neat parallels between the Santa character and Christ. That alone may sound cheesy if you know someone who is constantly making spiritual parallels and stretching situations just to do so. But for me, it doesn't happen as often as for some. I have to pray for God to reveal himself to me in day to day situations. It's just one of those things. So I got excited when I started putting some pieces together. :)

The scene that got me thinking was when the boy (nameless), after being skeptical and full of questions, decided to simply believe in Santa. Up to this point in the movie, he hadn't tried to pretend to believe. He stayed fairly quiet and soaked up everything he saw on his "journey" that started with the train ride. In this moment, though, he had seen enough, and wanted to experience what the others got to experience-- hearing the bells and getting to see and interact with Santa. He saw a bell on the ground, picked it up, closed his eyes tightly, and said, "I believe." At that moment, the scene jumps to Santa, who all of a sudden, in the middle of the noise of the elves and the music, seems to hear what the boy says. He makes his way through the crowd, and approaches the boy from behind. Meanwhile, the boy discovered that he could now hear the bell when he shook it. As he stilled his bell, he saw the reflection of Santa's smiling face behind him. From that moment, Santa reached out to the boy specifically. He had the elves escort him to the sleigh in celebration. He sat with the boy on the sleigh and asked him what he wanted for Christmas, and then sent him on his way with the conductor and the other children on the train. In response to a small step of faith, Santa pursued the boy and welcomed him into his world. He communicated with the boy. Both this, and hearing the bell, affirmed the boy's step of faith.

At this point in the movie, I was wishing Santa would have let the boy stay on the sleigh, so he could enjoy the ride, which would make for a good parallel for Christ being with us here on earth until we meet him in heaven. The crazy "ride" of the Christian life of trusting God and letting him lead us in the midst of tragedy, uncertainty, and disbelief.

But Santa leaves the boy in the trusted care of the conductor to take him home. The conductor, as each child boarded the train to go home, punched a word in each of their tickets- something that they could either improve in-- "Humility", or something they were good, "Leadership" was the little girl's word. Or something they could grow in or do more of-- "Believe" was the little boy's word.

It seems as though the conductor is sort of acting like the role of the Holy Spirit. He lead the boy to Santa, just like the Holy Spirit leads us to Jesus- not only in our initial realizations that lead to accepting and believing, but over and over when we run from Him and try to live self-reliantly. The conductor also didn't answer every question directly. No explanation needed there. :) And when he took the boy home from his journey, he encouraged him specifically. He affirmed some, and convicted others, according to what they needed at that time. This is exactly what the Holy Spirit does for us. One experience shared by others in the body of Christ can teach many unique lessons, personal lessons and encouragements from God to remind us that we are known and cared for.

When the boy returns to his house, he opens a special gift on Christmas morning. It is the bell which he lost at some point during his interactions with Santa during the night. This gift reassured him that Santa was real and he wanted the boy to continue to believe. Just like this, the Lord gives us little reminders that He is still real and alive in the middle of a world where disbelief and mockery are more popular than faith and discipleship. Specific conversations with other believers, tears shared over a common struggle, scripture brining peace to a situation. These are all our little gifts from God to keep trusting Him.

All of this happened for me while sitting in a squatty student chair in the middle of a 1st grade classroom. It was one of God's ways of receiving glory in the middle of the season which so easily gets clouded and busy before our intentions of stopping to adore Him first can become realities.

I hope for more of these little analogies throughout my days. It's quite refreshing, and definitely a gift from above.