Words From A Fav Author

I had a bad case of the stomach flu this month, even to the point of having to spend overnight at a hospital. Experiencing days of illness and weakness had me crying out to God a little more than usual. 

Then one day, upon feeling much better (and eating much more!) I started pondering how I tend to seek God most in my most painful and dark moments. Of course he understands, as this tends to be the common way of us human kind! Still I chided myself for not seeking Him more during times of comfort as well.

Tonight I came across this reading of one of my favorite authors and was impressed with how perfectly he expresses what I recently felt. Hoping you find the wisdom it brought me. ~jdl


The Necessity of Tribulation
Words of C.S. Lewis

I am progressing along the path of life in my ordinary contentedly fallen and godless condition, absorbed in a merry meeting with my friends for the morrow or a bit of work that tickles my vanity today, a holiday or a new book, when suddenly a stab of abdominal pain that threatens serious disease, or a headline in the newspapers that threatens us all with destruction, sends this whole pack of cards tumbling down.

At first I am overwhelmed, and all my little happinesses look like broken toys. Then, slowly and reluctantly, bit by bit, I try to bring myself into the frame of mind that I should be in at all times.

I remind myself that all these toys were never intended to possess my heart, that my true good is in another world and my only real treasure is Christ. And perhaps, by God's grace, I succeed, and for a day or two become a creature consciously dependent on God and drawing its strength from the right sources.

But the moment the threat is withdrawn, my whole nature leaps back to the toys: I am even anxious, God forgive me to banish from my mind the only thing that supported me under the threat because it is now associated with the misery of those few days.

Thus the terrible necessity of tribulation is only too clear. God has had me for but forty-eight hours and then only by dint of taking everything else away from me.

Let Him but sheathe that sword for a moment that I behave like a puppy when the hated bath is over -- I shake myself as dry as I can and race off to reacquire my comfortable dirtiness, if not in the nearest manure heap, at least in the nearest flower bed.

And that is why tribulations cannot cease until God either sees us remade or sees that our remaking is now hopeless.

From C.S. Lewis, Reading For A Year

Our dog Presley after being bathed and groomed loves rolling around...

perhaps he's looking to pick up some dirt again?

“God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain." ~ C.S. Lewis                      

Slow and Steady

January is a month to start anew.  And yes, I started with a huge list of things I resolve to do THIS year...uh, well, ok....again.

But this year in my quest for wisdom I came across an article about one of my favorite wise men, Benjamin Franklin.  He advises that you tackle one new habit at a time instead of trying to change everything at once...make one thing a habit before you move on to the next one. You won't feel overwhelmed and your more apt to truly change.

Benjamin Franklin's Approach

Now here I am at the end of the month less frustrated then years past, and not feeling like a total failure. In fact, I feel a more disciplined ME in the near future. So far I'm in the habit of going to bed earlier, reading each morning, trading my soda for healthy drinks, and speaking more kindly to those around me. The weight is still patiently waiting for the habit of the gym to begin and the words in my head are begging for a pen...but I know I'm going to get there!

Normally this slow pace of change would drive me crazy as I'm always in such a rush to get things done, but the beauty of this new habit-forming plan is that slow and steady is what will help me change for the long run.

photo credit

In other words, I may just beat that well-intentioned, 'I know I'm faster than you' rabbit to the finish line. My tortoise shell is, yes, also heavy with good intentions but instead of quitting because it's just too much, my little steps prove that moving, even if but slowly, is better than not moving at all!

It's more apt to get me 'there' then having no plan and jumping into the 'race for change' full steam, only to find myself soon panting breathlessly on the sidelines, convinced that I may as well not even try anymore.

And remember...any action, even if but small, is much better than a plethora of empty words with nothing following.

How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them. ~Benjamin Franklin