SURPRISED BY JOY by C.S. Lewis

“Never at any age did I clamour to be amused; always and at all ages (where I dared) I hotly demanded not to be interrrupted.”

page 142

Lewis’s introspection affected my consciousness. Lewis’s argument against atheism, against, pantheism, against anthroposophy, against occultism, and for Christianity is experience and reasoning . . . but isn’t that just conversion to any thought, any personal enlightenment? Experience and reasoning is an argument for human development, not Christianity. His conversion to Christianity in his young adulthood is beautiful and fascinating, built with years and years of study, introspection, and experience but so was my husband’s conversion to atheism from Christianity. I want to ask Lewis, Isn’t the choice to believe anything we want the magic of being human? The magic of creating meaning where we want, creating meaning wherever we are pulled if we search long enough?

Anyway, beyond his dizzying reasoning against Christianity and then his conviction to it, Lewis’s sentences are divine. His sentence structure, the rhythm of his paragraphs, and his use of language combine together to create breathtaking sentences that are a joy to read; and then to read again. Here is a sentence he wrote about how all time periods have their own characteristic illusions or cultures: “They are likeliest to lurk in those widespread assumptions which are so ingrained in the age that no one dares to attack or feels it necessary to defend them” (254). The mystery slowly becomes clearer with each word in the sentence, his alliteration and his word choice make the sentence delightful to read aloud or slide through like butter.

Thank you, C.S. Lewis, for allowing me to know you a little better. And for your sentences, especially your sentences.