We all go together

With The Magic Faraway Tree out in cinemas, Imogen reminds us that we never climb alone.

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to climb up a magical tree?

I love the stories of The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton. I have read the books and, recently, I went to see the new movie at the cinema – not once, but twice!

In the story of The Magic Faraway Tree, there’s a huge, enormous tree that stretches all the way up into the clouds. At the very top, there are different lands that change all the time. Sometimes it’s the Land of Birthdays, sometimes the Land of Toys, sometimes even the Land of Christmas. My favourite is the Land of Goodies, because the sweets look delicious – especially the flying saucers!

In the movie, a little girl called Fran discovers the Faraway Tree. At first, it looks like an ordinary tree in a forest. As Frannie begins to explore and climbs the tree higher and higher, things get more exciting and more beautiful.

Life with God can be a bit like climbing the Faraway Tree.

At the beginning, it might feel quite simple: learning about Jesus and coming to church. But the more time we spend with God, the more we discover just how amazing he is and how much he loves us. It’s like climbing higher and higher; there’s always more to see, more to learn and more joy to find.

A really special part of the story is that Frannie doesn’t climb the tree all on her own. She is joined by her brother, Joe, her sister, Beth, and her new friends, Silky, Moonface, Saucepan Man, Mr Watzisname, Dame Washalot and Angry Pixie. They all go together, helping each other along the way. That’s how God wants us to live too. We’re not meant to follow him on our own. We help each other, encourage each other and share the journey.

Sometimes in the story, the lands at the top can be a bit tricky or even a little scary, like the Land of Dame Snap. Dame Snap is a vicious, wicked teacher who puts Frannie and her friends in prison. In our lives, even when things feel confusing or hard, God is always there. He is our safe place, and we can always turn to him.

This week, you could imagine that you’re climbing your own Faraway Tree with God. Maybe you take one step by saying a prayer, another step by being kind to someone, and another step by trusting God when something feels hard. Every step brings you closer to him, and there’s always more exciting things to discover!

Reflect and respond

• Think about the journey ahead of you. Where do you see God?
• Look around. Who are you climbing your Faraway Tree with?
• Read 1 Corinthians 13:11. How will you share your journey with others?