The Spiderwick Chronicles: Jared the Prodigal

"I don't want to live with you! I hate you!"

That was the last thing that Jared Grace told his mother. Since then, he's nearly spent the rest of his life in the land of ghosts, been attacked by goblins, and barricaded himself and his family in his house. He's finally won -- the evil ones are vanquished -- but there's still something to say.

"I'm sorry," he says, almost whimpering now.

His mother says that no, she's sorry for not believing him about goblins and brownies.

Jared persists. "I'm sorry, and, I want to live here...if that's okay."

"If that's okay?" she echoes incredulously. For she never had any qualms with taking back her son, however much his anger takes him at times.

Yet that is who we are. We have scorned God and His gift of forgiveness. Of course we come back and say we're sorry, but sometimes, deep in our hearts, we wonder if that is enough. We wonder if, this time, God's finally had enough.

What we forget is that God is always echoing, incredulously, "If that's okay?" He wants us back, never had any thoughts of pushing us away because of sin. The debt is paid, and His love for us is stronger than Jared's mother was for him.

Just as the thought of sending Jared away because of what he'd said was unimaginable to his mother, so is God's heart toward us. Never forget that.

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The Spiderwick Chronicles: Of Boys and Men

Throughout the movie, Jared has been a bit of a jerk. He hits things when he's angry. He refuses a connection with his mom. And he obviously has a history of such behaviour since they all look at him when something goes wrong.

His anger stems from his dad's departure from the family. Still, the boy is sure that his dad will return. Together, they will leave the creepy mansion in which they've found themselves and return to New York. Their lives there will return to normal, and dad, hero in his son's eyes, will be the warrior he has always been.

Only, things don't go according to plan. Dad doesn't come. He doesn't return any phone calls. Finally, Jared's older sister, Mallory tells him the truth. There's another woman now; Dad moved in with her. They've all been betrayed.

Jared tears up, but that's about all he does. Suddenly, there is no more warrior to save him. Dad's gone for good. Mom doesn't believe him. Mallory's helpful, but she's looking to him now. Simon's a pacifist, doesn't like conflict. No help there.

Jared becomes the warrior. His siblings are looking to him, following his lead. Even his mom, once she's in on the fantasy, is looking to him to know what to do. With goblins throwing themselves against his front door, Jared grows up. He takes charge. There is no longer anyone to take the blame for things going wrong in his life -- except him. He's in the lead, and the lives of his family rest on his young shoulders.

After the battle, when all has been won, his mother calls him to her. "You're my protector," she says.

That is a man's place: protector of the women and children. Jared learned this the way no child should have to learn, but, unlike some, he learned the lesson that was before them. He became a leader. And that is all that could be asked for from such a battle.

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The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Unseen World

There are invisible beings all around us. Some have only our best interests in mind. Some wish us ill.

This is the fantastic message of The Spiderwick Chronicles. It makes the movie into the impossible. Goblins, brownies, ogres, and sprites don't really exist. We all know that. And so many of us would be tempted to disregard the entire story as fiction.

But in every fiction there is some truth, and this movie is no exception. All around us -- all around you, reader, right now -- are beings that, if you could see them, you would call magical. They're unique, like nothing you've ever seen before. Not animal. Not human. They are awe-inspiring and fear-inspiring and generally frightful.

Not all of them wish you evil. Many are servants of God, doing His bidding with a joyful and worshippful heart.

But some of them are evil. They're entire goal is to get you out of the equation. They don't let you see them and the trouble is...you believe that they don't exist. How easy it must be to fight an enemy who doesn't even believe that there is an attack!

Lucy is balancing on the line between protection and death. She can't see the goblins drooling for her blood on the other side of the line. She knows nothing of their existence.

Simon is looking for his cat in what he thinks is an empty yard. But Jared can see what his brother doesn't: the goblins just waiting for him to step over the line.

Mallory is practicing her fencing in the front yard, purposefully disobeying her younger brother's warning. She's confident that the yard is empty, until something bumps against her. Her sword plunges downward...and comes away dripping green.

Mom is driving up, preparing to park. Her children clamber into the car, and

her daughter takes the wheel. She thinks they've gone insane, but that's before there are various thumps and splats of green blood.

How can we live like there is no evil? They are out to get us, and they are out to win! Their whole life revolves on destroying us and our relationship with God. And what does our life revolve around? Our clothes, our hair, our friends, our family.

Lucy loved her father. Simon loved his cat. Mallory loved her fencing. Mom loved her children. But they were all forced to discover that there was an evil seeking them. And in their quest, they found an adventure better than they could wish for.

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