*Spoiler Alert* If you don’t want to know scenes from the books, don’t read the following selections.
The allegorical arc over the 4 books explores a growing relationship with Christ.
- At first, the relationship is spotty-as when humans begin to go to church or read the Bible. They live their lives, perhaps not knowing exactly what is right or wrong. Christian Tompta grows in relationship with Topher, like a new Christian grows his faith and his relationship with Jesus.
- Faith needs to be fed and nourished with the Word; Christian feeds and nourishes his new friend.
- As a relationship with God progresses, understanding develops and increases about how He interacts and intervenes in lives. For Christian, when he is scared, Topher takes action in several instances.
- More conflicts develop – both in humans’ lives and in the gnomeling’s life. Incidents arise that frighten him-just like in real life. Unsavory characters are met-some are genuinely bad while others are not. This causes Christian to look at the heart of a creature rather than its perceived reputation or capabilities (Stanky the skunk), and questions the authority (Topher), relying on his knowledge. A human needs to do the same, referencing authority through prayer and the Word. Anyone is capable of becoming an unsavory character.
- When a human feels sick or desperate and just can’t handle another thing, they lean on Jesus more often as their relationship with Him grows. They depend on God to carry them, which is faith. Christian relies on Topher during his extreme illness.
- A pivotal moment in faith occurs when humans acknowledge Jesus’ sacrifice for them, and it impacts humans strongly. They can be left bereft at their feelings of unworthiness. Topher sacrifices himself on behalf of Christian.
- A moment arises when Winny speaks to Christian about how much Topher must love him to make that sacrifice-like Jesus loves humans.
Additional allegories/metaphors contained within the series:
- Topher gives Christian hope and security, like Jesus gives us.
- Topher comforts and protects Christian, like Jesus comforts and protects us.
- Topher shows Christian how to rest (sleeping in), like God tells us to do.
- Topher becomes a spiritual guide, like Jesus–alive, but in a different way.
- Christian has feelings of frustration, anger, and sadness, but these feelings are normal, and he maintains biblical morals in a general sense of decency.
- God the Father/Creator is the Great Master Artist.
- Pith is angels and Geist is the spirit realm/heaven.
- Gnomes who die become spirits and live amongst Pith in Geist.
Dawn Marie Paul 