The author C.S. Lewis is considered one of the most influential Christian writers of the twentieth century. He activated the faith and imagination of millions of people with fictional works like The Chronicles of Narnia, series. He also has had a significant impact through his books on theology, like his highly influential Mere Christianity.
In one of his most personal books, Surprised by Joy, C.S. Lewis tell of his own journey from Atheism to Christianity. In Lewis’ life he identifies his own experiences of joy as the primary moments that led him to know God. He states that,
“All Joy reminds. It is never a possession, always a desire for something longer ago or further away or still ‘about to be'”.
In other words, Joy is an arrow and it points towards our deepest hopes about the universe.
In Lewis’ life he began to realize that he experienced moments of joy that pointed to a hope for something that nothing in this world could satisfy. He was convinced that his joy must point to some reality and his journey to find the target of his joy eventually led him to find God. His discovery of God completely changed his life, and all his work following this conversion sought to inspire similar joy in the hearts of his readers.
Action for Today
- When have you had an experience of joy that gave you a hope in something beyond what this world has to offer?
- How do you think joy and faith are related to one another?
Advent Action Guide
This is an entry in my Advent Action Guide which will be featured all Advent long.
If you’re interested in downloading a copy or signing up for daily emails for the rest of the season fill out the form below:
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In