The life of C.S. Lewis

Most know C.S. Lewis as the author of the children’s series “The Chronicles of Narnia.” Less known is that he was a Christian apologist who wrote many books defending the faith, becoming one of the most influential religious writers of the 20th century. Far fewer people, myself included until recently, aren’t aware he was very reluctant to convert to Christianity. When he was younger his family was a part of the Church of Ireland, but he fell away from the faith in his early teens. In his biography “Surprised by Joy” he describes his conversion back to Christianity in his early 30s, by comparing himself to the Prodigal Son. “The Prodigal Son at least walked home on his own feet. But who can duly adore that Love which will open the high gates to a prodigal who is brought in kicking, struggling, resentful, and darting his eyes in every direction for a chance of escape?” He says he just wanted to be “left alone;” he didn’t want to bother with religion. But he couldn’t deny the truth of God’s existence, and so reluctantly accepted Jesus into his heart. My first reaction was amazement at how God used such a reluctant convert to become one of the most well-known and influential defenders of the Christian faith. The passage about Lewis’ conversion came from a book I’ve been reading called “The Narnian” by Alan Jacobs. It focuses on the people, places and events in Lewis’ life that shaped his beliefs and imagination that he carefully crafted into his nonfiction and fiction books. One of the things I liked about “The Narnian” is its description of all aspects of Lewis’ life, some admirable, some not. In his own words, Lewis wrote later in life that he was an intellectual prig during his school years. He thought of himself as superior because of his intelligence and didn’t have much patience for his classmates who weren’t as gifted. He wrote that he “began to labor very hard to make myself into a fop, a cad and a snob,” and he struggled with pride for much of his life. When he was 18 he met the mother of one of his good friends and would soon start a relationship with her that continued until she died about 30 years later. She was unofficially divorced, but her husband was out of the picture. Still, in those days, that kind of thing was looked down upon. Lewis must have been aware of this because he hid the details of his relationship even from close family and friends. There are differing accounts by Lewis’ biographers of what kind of relationship this was, whether romantic or platonic, but even so it was a questionable aspect of his life. Reading about it though reminded me that he’s human; he’s flawed just like you and I, but through God’s grace he became a very influential man. I believe that God especially likes to use people with obvious weaknesses because He wants to make it easy for us to recognize His power in all of it. His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Why else did He choose to make Peter the rock of the church, even after he was the one who denied Jesus three times on the evening of his arrest? With God’s help Moses, a stutterer, confronted the Egyptian Pharaoh and led the Israelites out of slavery. When God chooses to work in the impossible it is for our benefit, to make it clear that no matter what, anything is possible with Him (Mark 10:27). And because of this I’m glad to know now the whole person of C.S. Lewis. It makes me more aware of God’s influence in each of our lives, and thankful that my failures, and others’, can’t stop Him from the good He plans for each of us. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2: 8-10).

Telling it like it is on drug abuse

Word is finally getting out about the realities of drug use. One of the leading voices is Christina Huffington, daughter of Arianna Huffington of "The Huffington Post." She started cocaine at the age of 16 and is now sober after seeking help at age 22. In an interview on the "Today" show, Christina said her struggle with cocaine addiction was "absolutely unglamorous." "There was nothing fun about it ... I was really depressed, I was scared, I was anxious and I sorta just felt isolated and alone," she said. She described being confined to her apartment from morning till night using drugs. This doesn't sound like the type of life and conditions anyone would want to live under. Yet people choose to abuse drugs every day, and I believe it's because a lot of them don't realize that what may have started off as looking cool or something fun to do with friends or at a party, doesn't last. More needs to be done to make people aware of what drug abuse really entails, and I applaud Christina Huffington for going public about her addiction so that others may know. We all have the potential to become substance abusers. Every one of us feels vulnerable at some point and available prescription drugs can become the easy and quick choice. Christina said she struggled with loneliness and emptiness and "desired to fill it with substances." It didn't matter that she was rich or had a loving family or a world of possibilities open to her. Drugs aren't prejudice; they affect the wealthy and poor, young and old, men and women, people who are successful and those who are down on their luck, living in the city or the country. West Virginia is especially hit hard by prescription drug abuse. Oceana's residents in Wyoming County tell in graphic detail in the documentary "Oxyana" of what it's like to live in a town where a lot of people are addicted to drugs. It's not pretty. It's heartbreaking and scary and something we shouldn't want to continue there or in other areas of our state and nation. Prescription drug abuse in particular is an epidemic of our country and the fact that our state has some of the worst abuse makes it especially too close to home to ignore. Being informed of the realties of drug abuse is a start, and "Oxyana" and Christina Huffington's public position have done a good job, but more people need to watch the documentary and read Huffington's story. Share these valuable resources with your loved ones, friends and co-workers, so that if they find themselves in a vulnerable moment, they can make an informed decision and hopefully choose not to abuse drugs. That's just one way to join the fight on the local level. On the state level, plenty of West Virginians are doing something about prescription drug abuse right now through the court system and by offering a variety of drug treatment options through the Prestera Center. Read a story by Travis Crum. And on the federal level, Attorney General Eric Holder recently announced changes to how low-level, nonviolent drug offenders are to be prosecuted. It could be the most significant change since the war on drugs was initiated in the 1980s. Read the article here.

Men need women, study finds

So, I didnt have time to write an actual blog about this, but here's just another example of God's truth reflected in our everyday lives, and that science/the world backs up. God gave Eve to Adam for very good intentions. He knows what is best for us, and is happy to give it. In Genesis 2:18, God said, "It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
The New York Times just published an article about a study that concluded that "Men need women." The researchers concluded that women have a profound impact on a man's generosity, sense of empathy and care. Read the article for more information and the impact Bill Gates' wife has on him, among other examples....

When it’s too much to bear

   Why does death have to be? Why is there so much sadness and suffering? It’s all in each of our stories. Not a one of us has lived a long, joyous life with no heartbreaks or tears or brokenness to speak of. We’ve all lost something, been beaten down, physically and mentally.
   We forget that sometimes, inflicting hurt onto each other, so it’s one big cycle. It’s one big loop of being hurt and creating the hurt that we’re all tired of, but can’t seem to stop.
   I wonder, if there were no bad times, would there be happiness at all? Would we recognize it? I have asked myself this question for a long time, but I think I’ve finally realized the answer, and it’s yes. God created Paradise on earth where Adam and Eve walked with Him, loving each other and Him. And Heaven is like this too, just light and goodness however we imagine it. We all yearn for a place like that, so it must be, and we must all be meant for it.
   How can such an invisible thing as sin be manifested in so many ways, and do so much destruction and damage? How much more will God sweep in, when it is time, and restore it all, to something wonderful and good and whole. One day He will.
   Sometimes I want to live forever, so caught up on life that wiggles and pops and excites me of all its endless possibilities. But sometimes I desperately wish for Jesus to come back, to save us all, this very moment, so that one more child will not go hungry, there’ll be no more rapes, no more anger, no more death, no more brokenness, no more tears, no more anguish and grief. It’ll be over and gone -- like it never happened.
   Jesus says in Isaiah 65:17, See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.
   How amazing is that? Like the bad stuff never even happened ...
   Isaiah goes on to say that God will rejoice and have joy in his people, the voice of weeping shall be no more heard, nor the voice of crying.
   God is going to create that Paradise again, and it will be forever this time. This we can have hope for, when the world comes crashing down on us, and seems too much to bear.

A new definition of success from centuries ago

I find it interesting when I come across news stories that have an obvious jibe to what the Bible says. Not because I'm surprised that the Bible is relevant to our day, which it is, but because mainstream society is hostile to the Word of God, yet its conclusions end up coinciding with its truth all along.
One of the latest examples of this is Arianna Huffington's commencement address for the graduating class of the all-female Smith College in Northampton, Mass. Huffington is the president and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post.
Speaking to an audience who has its next career move on the mind, Huffington focuses on society's definition of success. She says this includes seeking money and power, but that it "isn't working for anyone."
These objectives have created a workplace that is "fueled by stress, sleep-deprivation and burnout," she says.
The Today show did a story, based off a New York Times article, about the negative effects just sleep-deprivation can have on our bodies. These include mental health problems, obesity, cancer and heart disease, among other ailments.
However, Huffington says she has a solution to this dilemma; she calls it the "third metric." It's about adding well-being, wonder, wisdom and giving back, into our definition of success.
On June 6, the Huffington Post sponsored a conference about this idea. The newspaper's website even has a "third metric" blog where successful men and women weigh in on their own definitions of success and how people can lead more fulfilling, happy lives.
The thing is, what Huffington and the rest are trying to figure out, has already been written down in great detail in the Bible.
The Bible defined success centuries ago, and it had nothing to do with money and power, but about seeking God. He is the source of all the attributes Huffington lists in her “third metric,” and much more. Why else would Jesus say in Matthew 22:36-40 that the greatest commandment is to love God?
In her speech, Huffington says there are two fundamental truths: 1. "We all have an inner place of wisdom, harmony, strength. This is a truth that all the world's religions -- whether Christianity, Islam, Judaism, or Buddhism -- and many of its philosophies, hold true in one form or another: 'The Kingdom of God is Within.'
2. "When we're in that centered place of wisdom, harmony and strength, life is transformed, from struggle to grace, and we are suddenly filled with trust, no matter the obstacles, challenges and disappointments. Because there is a purpose to our lives, even if it is sometimes hidden from us and even if the biggest turning points and heartbreaks only make sense as we look back, not as we are experiencing them."
I agree that we have a source of wisdom, harmony, etc, but it's not in some mysterious place we have inside of ourselves. It comes from God.
In John 15:5 Jesus says apart from Him we can do nothing. He says in Colossians 1:16-17 that He has created all things and that He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
When Huffington was quoting from the Bible, "The Kingdom of God is within," it was taken from Luke 17:21, when the Pharisees ask Jesus when the kingdom of God is going to come.
Jesus answers them saying it's not going to be a specific time or place, but is already within us.
The Greek word "makario," which is translated "blessed" in English, means to be characterized by the quality of God. The only way we can have this is if He dwells in us and his nature lives inside us, i.e., "God's kingdom is within us." This could mean the Holy Spirit, which dwells inside each believer.
These believers have a source of wisdom, harmony etc, not by their own doing, but because these qualities are of God. It's who He is.
Many verses describe His attributes. He brings us from struggle to grace, Psalm 116; He is a source of strength, wisdom and trust, Psalm 28, Psalm 111, Isaiah 40:31; He gives us purpose, Ephesians 2:10. God is the “centered place” Huffington describes.
When Huffington spoke to the women of Smith College, she was hoping to encourage them, to give them the tools they needed to find fulfillment in their lives.
Another meaning of the Greek word, makario, is to be fully satisfied. We experience this when we are satisfied not by circumstances, but by the very fact that Christ lives in us.
This is the advice I would give to graduates and people everywhere: Accept God in your heart, put your hope in His Word, for heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s Word will never pass away, Matthew 24:35.

The first post

I’ve finally started a blog! I’ve been hearing from friends, family members and my husband for awhile now that I should create one, and now I feel like I finally have something to say. My posts will include my reactions/opinions on news stories, excerpts from books I’m reading, and anything else I find interesting or worth writing about. It’ll basically be a mixed bag of whatever I’m focusing at the moment outside my regular job, copy editing pages for the Charleston Gazette. Thats why the blog’s called “Downtime.”

Through this blog, I’ll try more than anything to inform my readers of the facts and both sides of the story. I’ll also be sharing my thoughts on the ways I see God working in my life and the world around me. I love God and Jesus and learning more about them, and this will, hopefully, be reflected in my writing.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and anything else I post. I appreciate it so much. I look forward to your comments and feedback!