March 03, 2007
Gratuitous Lenten Observations - "Good For What Ails Ye" Division
Sat down yesterday to reread C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce, his Dante-like musing on the nature of Heaven, hell and human weakness in all its manifestations.
I can state emphatically that the couple hours it took me to get through the book produced more soul shaking, stirring and examining than all the buy-a-chicken-to-save-Africa programs the U.N. could ever dream of concocting.
I'm sure a number of you are shaking your heads and muttering, "Well, duh.." And I'd probably do the same if somebody else were posting this. I simply mention it because it's been a while since I read Lewis and I'd forgotten the intensity of the experience. His genius is to make you stare directly into the Light and honestly examine yourself in its reflection - no hiding, no prevaricating, no "yeah, buts.." no shoulda-woulda-couldas.
My spirit aches the same way as my muscles do when I've exercised again after a long hiatus. It's painful, but at the same time quite satisfying.
...it's been a while since I read Lewis and I'd forgotten the intensity of the experience. His genius is to make you stare directly into the Light and honestly examine yourself in its reflection...
That's exactly how I felt while reading his book on the Psalms.
Posted by: jen at March 3, 2007 10:43 AMHe has all the brilliance of a convert.
It is seeing things for the first time that makes the difference -- he notices things we have long forgotten.
Posted by: The Colossus at March 3, 2007 12:30 PM
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