Friday, January 9, 2009

Meditation in a Toolshed

My favorite characteristic about C.S. Lewis' writing is that he always uses examples that are found in nature rather then some human conception. He doesn't compare a part of Christianity to language, which can either be verb+noun or noun+verb, but to something that simply is. His use of the beam of light peaking through a tool shed is the perfect metaphor against relativistic thinking.

He gives us a few ways in which we can observe this beam of light; we can look at it, embody it, or look beyond it. He really only mentions looking at and along the beam, but I think C.S. Lewis also drops hints and points to a more grandeur idea throughout his writings (not just this particular piece, but all of his pieces.) For instance, C.S. Lewis explains that a physiologist will look at thinking as neurons and tiny physical movements. But then he also goes on to say that another physiologist will say the same thing of the first physiologist's thoughts. Mr. Lewis continually takes steps backwards. He never stops at the first conclusion but always tries to work his way to the source - and if he can't, it's false. "Where is the rot to end?" is C.S. Lewis' remark on the circle of analyzing the physiologists do.

Most will think that C.S. Lewis isn't giving us an answer to which is the best way to live out life...I wholeheartedly disagree. Life isn't about one perspective. It's not about just looking along or just looking at, but taking as many perspectives as you can until you do stumble upon truth.

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