The Great Divorce
Last night we finished up a parish study of C.S. Lewis’ book, The Great Divorce. The book begins with the premise the heaven and hell are indeed very different places, that we must choose either one or the other, and that they are in no way wedded to one another, not even in the smallest detail. Every time I read this book I come away with a greater appreciation of the genius that Lewis possessed for communicating the Christian faith. There has also been the opportunity to savor some of his words, like one would savor a glass of fine wine. One such passage is the response given by the great lady, Sarah Smith, near the end of the book as she addresses the man who seems to have been her husband on earth. She tries with her whole self to coax him into letting go of the chain of death clutched in his hand that has his entire life kept him in misery.
Did you think joy was created to live always under that threat? Always defenseless against those who would rather be miserable than have their self-will crossed? For it was real misery. I know that now. You made yourself really wretched. That you can still do. But you can no longer communicate your wretchedness. Everything becomes more and more itself. Here is joy that cannot be shaken. Our light can swallow up your darkness: but your darkness cannot infect our light. No, no, no. Come to us. We will not go to you. Can you really have thought that love and joy would always be at the mercy of frowns and sighs? Did you not know they were stronger than their opposites?
During this third week of Advent, may we let go of our misery and self pity in favor of the joy that comes in living an authentic Christian life. May we remember that the light of Christ shatters the darkness of evil. Let us go forth with this knowledge to share our joy with others.
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