Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Two to Remember

Today is the birthday of C.S. Lewis, and that's a good reason to post a thought-provoking quote from him. Lewis was born in 1898 and died on Nov. 22, 1963, the same date as President John F. Kennedy and author Aldous Huxley. Peter Kreeft wrote a book based on his imagination of what a conversation among these three people might sound like if they met after death; it is titled Between Heaven and Hell: A Dialog Somewhere Beyond Death with John F. Kennedy, C. S. Lewis & Aldous Huxley.

I don't think I've read that book yet, but today is Lewis's birthday. Maybe I'll read the book prompted by the date of his death before next November 22 and have some thoughts on it then. For now, I'd like to think on this:

  Gratitude looks to the Past and love to the Present; fear, avarice, lust, and ambition look ahead.

The first clause describes what characterized our family's Thanksgiving celebration so recently. The second describes what I have daily to turn from, to put off from my thoughts just as I might drop an icky thing from my hands, so that I can freely touch and hold, really be present with, what and who is right here now.

While I'm remembering people who inspire, let me not forget to mention St. Andrew The First Called, whose feast day is tomorrow. I learned last year about how he is the patron saint of Scotland. We don't have our priest-intern Fr. Andrew any longer but we are having Vespers tonight and Liturgy tomorrow for Saint Andrew all the same, which makes me happy right now.

In thinking about Lewis's quote above, I realized that one reason we plan for the future is just so we will be able to love and serve when the future has become the present. It's the way we can look ahead in love and faith and not in those other ways. But what a lot of Love I have to live in today.

6 comments:

E Helena E said...

Memory Eternal! What a fascinating book that could be.
Amen to preparing well for the future in service and love.

Pom Pom said...

Those are great words! Happy Birthday, C.S.!
I am looking forward to reading your "A Childlike Christmas" post tomorrow!

Jeannette said...

What a sweet tribute...yes, we need to drop the icky stuff...

James the Thickheaded said...

Peter Kreeft is a good wordsmith and catechist. His website has many good podcasts, and I'd bet that's a great book.

I think your last paragraph quite outstanding. Thank you.

amy said...

This is such a lovely tribute; I'm sorry I missed it earlier. I think, in my lifetime, I shall never tire of the enrichment that C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien bring to my spiritual life.

Thistle Cove Farm said...

I always thought of the three, I miss Jack the most.