C. S. Lewis Reflection Paper

When I first started this class the only knowledge of C. S. Lewis I had was that he was a Christian, an author and he was highly favored and respected for his work by my Pastor, as well as some of the people in my small group from church. Though, all of this remains true of C. S. Lewis, I have also learned that there was a time in his life where he was an atheist. This came as a complete surprise to me, but the more I have learned about Lewis, the more this piece seems to have been a key factor in his success and his legacy. Having been an atheist and converting to Christianity helped Lewis relate to people, both believers and non-believers, in his written work, but also when he also connected with people through his broadcasts talks.
This class also shined light on one of my weaknesses, or as this class called them strong holds; trust. For many years I struggled to let people in to my bubble because I was afraid of being hurt and even though I knew I did this because I didn’t trust people I had no idea how to go about resolving this. Forgiveness, is what I discovered was the key to learning to trust again, I had to forgive those who had hurt me and broke my trust. I also had to be willing to step outside my comfort zone. Many of the things discussed in C. S. Lewis’s chapter on forgiveness in his book Mere Christianity (1952) are lessons that I had to learn and one of the truest statements is in the beginning when he says “every one says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive” (p.115). Many of the things I had to forgive were painful and were memories I didn’t even want to recall, but I knew as hard as it was, it would be worth it in the end. Prayer, is what got me through so many of those arduous times just as C. S. Lewis says in Mere Christianity (1952) “to what will you look for help if you will not look to that which is stronger than yourself” (p.59). Prayer, is powerful and in it we find the most amazing healing. I have forgiven many and yet have more work to do, but progress has made a huge difference in my relationships and has allowed me to build
S. Lewis in such high regard because over these past few weeks I have grown to admire him as well. I love the purpose behind his work, and the story behind his becoming a Christian, his passion for ensuring that all people who hear or read his message, understand his message. I love that he expresses to people that “I am a very ordinary layman of the Church of England, not especially ‘high’, nor especially ‘low’, nor especially anything else” (p. VIII, Mere Christianity, 1952). Aren’t we all just ordinary broken sinful God created creatures? These are the things that C. S. Lewis writes about and in those books he helps us feel like we are not alone in our suffering. Alister McGrath writes in his book C. S. Lewis – A Life: Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet (2013) about Lewis that “he has come to be seen as a trustworthy, intelligent, and above all accessible representative of a theologically and culturally attractive vision of the Christian faith” (p. 371). He also says “for Lewis, the best art hinted at the deeper structures of reality, helping humanity in its perpetual quest for truth and significance” (p.379). These final two statements sum up how I have come to see C. S. Lewis and why I think that he continues to be a powerful influence in lives today when many thought that his popularity would soon fade after his passing in