Virtue: Creativity
Resolution: I choose to reveal the beauty of God according to my strengths and gifts.
Human Story: C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)
C. S. Lewis is one of the most well-known, popular, and influential Christian writers of the 20th century. He was a professor of English Literature at Oxford University and Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University. He wrote more than 30 books and countless essays. While many of his writings were academic, political, or social criticisms, he is known best for his fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia and his apologetic books like Mere Christianity. Lewis’ first love was in storytelling. He had been enamored with fairytales, myths, and legends from his childhood. Despite becoming an atheist during his youth, Lewis found something beautiful in the mythologies and fantasy novels he read as a boy. It was this mysterious beauty and long late-night talks with friends, like J. R. R. Tolkien, that eventually led to Lewis’ belief in God and his faith in Jesus Christ, which he called “the true Myth.”
During the tumultuous 40s and 50s in England, he found it his duty as both an intellectual and Christian to present the truth, beauty, and hope of the Gospel to culture in the most reasoned way he could. He spoke on national radio and wrote many of his books during this time. While most of his works focused on reasoned arguments for Christianity, he felt drawn to the use of stories. He had an amazing gift to use language and imagery to draw his readers into his works. In this way, he could engage both the mind and the heart of his readers.
In his stories about Narnia, Lewis uses beautiful images, like beaches of a mysterious island, a forest caught in perpetual winter, or an ancient castle overlooking the sea. He couples those images with beautiful names like Cair Paravel, Aslan, Bism, and even Puddleglum. Then Lewis fills this world with characters both fantastical and familiar. Like Mr. Tumnus, the kindly faun Lucy Pevensie meets when she first enters Narnia, who despite being a legalist informant helps Lucy escape and is punished for it. Then there is Eustace Scrubb, that truly irritating person, who has to go through a physical ordeal (being turned into a dragon on the outside to match his inside) and who has to rely on Aslan to take him through the painful process of stripping away the dragon on the outside to become a better version of himself. Or the swashbuckling mouse Reepicheep who, in the beginning of his story is so quick to take offense at his honor, later freely bows before Aslan and finally gives all he is to find the land which Aslan rules. And then Aslan the Lion, who sacrifices himself to break a curse placed on his land. Through these beautiful stories, Lewis wished to remind us that the Gospel was not just reasonable, but also beautiful; that imagination, as well as reason, were tools God gave for us to find truth. As Lewis put it, “I think that all things, in their way, reflect heavenly truth, the imagination not least.”
Resources:
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
The Chronicles of Narnia (books 1-7) By C. S. Lewis
Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet - C. S. Lewis, A Life by Alister Mcgrath
C. S. Lewis A Biography by Roger Lancelyn Green and Walter Hooper
Christian Reflections by C. S. Lewis (edited by Walter Hooper)
Lesson: Psalm 19:1-6 (NIV 1984)
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
Read through the passage again and really take time to ponder the creativity of the words. Write down your thoughts.
Every day and night the glory of God is on display for all people to see. Think about how the heavens speak through sight, sound, smell, and feeling. Their communication knows no boundaries except the willingness of the receiver.
God uses this creative description to portray not only His glory but also the second coming of Christ. When Jesus comes forth from His pavilion, nothing will be hidden from experiencing His presence.
Remembrance
Book of Common Prayer 14. For church musicians and artists
O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be ever present with your servants on earth who seek through art and music to perfect the praises of your people. Grant them even now true glimpses of your beauty, and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Challenge
1. Think of an occasion from your childhood or early life. Write down an account of this story using imagery and descriptive words.
2. Read or listen to The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. https://newheadway.weebly.com/uploads/4/3/3/6/43369237/388453_1411397848.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUK7IcrRt6o
Reflection
No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally – and often far more – worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond. - C. S. Lewis
Further Growth:
2021: Book of Common Prayer Proper 24
Old Testament: Genesis 32:3-8,22-30
Psalm: Psalm 121
New Testament: 2 Timothy 3:14 — 4:5
Gospel: Luke 18:1-8
2020: Book of Common Prayer Proper 24
Old Testament: Malachi 3:6-12
Psalm: Psalm 96
New Testament: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Gospel: Matthew 22:15-22