Ma's Literary Corner

Today Ma will share a few quotes from, Yours, Jack: Spiritual Direction from C.S.Lewis, Paul F. Ford, Editor, Harper One: 2008.

Though brought up in the church, Clives Staples Lewis rejected Christianity in early adulthood. Due to the influence of Tolkien and other friends, Lewis became a steadfast believer at the age of 30.

This book reprints some of the letters he wrote to various people, men, women and children, who had sought him out for spiritual advice. The first letters though, begin before his conversion, but it is not long before we are taken through his acceptance of a God governing all, and then to full-bloomed Christianity.

One of the bonuses I found in reading this book, was recommended literature by Lewis. I now have several authors to explore for my 'to read' list, as well as all of C.S. Lewis' theological works :-)

But the advice offered to friends and acquaintances, while not thematic due to the nature of the book, was nonetheless enlightening. C.S. Lewis has quite the knack of putting concepts into everyday illustrations that common folk such as myself can appreciate.

The title of the book refers to his routine reference to himself as 'Jack,' rather than his formal name.

TO MARY NEYLAN:...on the despair of overcoming chronic temptations; 20 January 1942

I know all about the despair of overcoming chronic temptations. It is not serious provided self-offended petulance, annoyance at breaking records, impatience et cetera doesn't get the upper hand. No amount of falls will really undo us if we keep on picking ourselves up each time. We shall of course be very muddy and tattered children by the time we reach home. But the bathrooms are all ready, the towels put out, and the clean clothes are in the airing cupboard. The only fatal thing is to lose one's temper and give it up. It is when we notice the dirt that God is most present to us: it is the very sign of His presence. (p. 94)

TO GENIA GOELZ, who had just been confirmed as an Episcopalian and was in the first fervor of her conversion. 15 My 1952

Thanks for your letter of the 9th. All our prayers are being answered and I thank God for it. The only (possibly, not necessarily) unfavourable symptom is that you are just a trifle too excited. It is quite right that you should feel that 'something terrific' has happened to you (It has) and be 'all glowy'. Accept these sensations with thankfulness as birthday cards from God, but remember that they are only greetings, not the real gift. I mean, it is not the sensations that are the real thing. The real thing is the gift of the Holy Spirit which can't usually be--perhaps not ever--experienced as a sensation or emotion. The sensations are merely the response of your nervous system. Don't depend on them. Otherwise when they go and you are once more emotionally flat (as you certainly will be quite soon), you might think that the real thing had gone too. But it won't. It will be there when you can't feel it. May even be most operative when you can feel it least.

Don't imagine it is all 'going to be an exciting adventure from now on'. It won't. Excitement, of whatever sort, never lasts. This is the push to start you off on your first bicycle: you'll be left to [do] lots of dogged peddling later on. And no need to be depressed about it either. It will be good for your spiritual leg muscles. So enjoy the push while it lasts, but enjoy it as a treat, not as something normal. (pp. 179, 180)

TO RUTH BROADY: Lewis's last letter to a child about Narnia. 26 October 1963

Manny thanks for your kind letter, and it was very good of you to write and tell me that you like my books; and what a very good letter you write for your age!

If you continue to love Jesus, nothing much can go wrong with you, and I hope you may always do so. I'm so thankful that you realized the 'hidden story' in the Narnian books. It is odd, children nearly always do, grown ups hardly ever.

I'm afraid the Narnian series has come to an end, and am sorry to tell you that you can expect no more.

God bless you. (p. 373)

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