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books, C.S. Lewis, christian, christianity, death, images, life, Mere Christianity, mortality, quotes, shadowlands
From sunrise to sunset… from the cradle to the grave… the sum total of a human life, powerfully depicted in these four images.
Life is short even if, in God’s providence, we live long (and that is certainly not guaranteed for any of us). I thought of this image when I wrote about my friend Gary yesterday. Continued below…
I wish I knew who created the image. I’ve seen it on StumbleUpon many times, but have never been able to find its author. I would not only like to give them credit for it, but also to thank them for a poignant visual reminder of the brevity of life.
If I were to label the individual panels I would call them Beginnings, Love, Loss, Death. I’m 53. I’ve tasted, either directly or vicariously, all of these experiences, and I will eventually taste death for myself. But that’s okay. This world is not my home.
Once again I’m reminded of the words of C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity.
I quoted part of this in a previous post, which prompted a spirited discussion in the comments. (I encourage you to read that discussion.) Here is the quote, expanded to include more of its original context.
Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing. If that is so, I must take care, on the one hand, never to despise, or be unthankful for, these earthly blessings, and on the other, never to mistake them for the something else of which they are only a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage. I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others to do the same.
With that, I am pressing on to my true country, preparing to leave behind these Shadowlands, and helping as many others as I can to do the same.
Very poignant, my friend!
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I was searching for a CS Lewis quote and came across your blog, where I came across this beautiful, touching picture. Do you know where on the internet I might find it?
Unfortunately, I have no idea who created the image or where to find it. I wish I did. I originally saw it on StumbleUpon and borrowed it from there, but that’s been so long ago I don’t think I could possibly find it again.
WOW
D’oh! pushed enter by mistake
What an inspiring post, thank you!
I’m not Christian, but I am very religious though: I love all religions as they are just different culture’s different ways of reaching God.
There isn’t one way to God, there are Billions.
I wish that societies had not warped religions so much that they’ve turned the masses against them to such an extent that they literally scorn God. definitely a point that needs addressing anyway…
I wish that Religion could be seen again as the mass organised Gratefulness, Love & devotion for God, rather than the “passing on of the responsibility of spiritual progression”.
Hi, Perin. First, I want to apologize for not responding sooner. I’ve been extremely busy. Second, I want you to know that I appreciate your kinds words and your gracious wishes. However, I’m afraid I have to disagree with you about there being many different ways to God. If that statement were true, then Christianity would be false, because Jesus said that no one could find God without going through him.
Not only did he say that he was the only way to God, but also that relatively few people will actually take the one narrow path that leads to God.
At the very least, that implies that a lot of people trying to find God won’t. In addition, Jesus made it unequivocally clear that there were in fact some very religious people who did not know God, since they did not come to God through him. He was saying, in effect, that all religions do not lead to God. Speaking to the most morally upright and religious Jews of his day, Jesus said:
A few minutes later he added that not only did they not know God, but that their father was actually the devil (John 8:44). What an indictment.
Those are all astounding statements. But if what you say is true, everything that Jesus said is false, and Christianity is a false religion leading nowhere. On the other hand, if what Jesus said is true, your claim is false and there is only one way to God.
Those who listened to Jesus’ teaching every day for three years, and knew him better than anyone else, confirmed his message when they made statements like this:
I pray that you would carefully consider the claims of Jesus. I suggest that you read the gospel of Matthew, and then the gospel of John. I’ll close with the well-known words of C.S. Lewis: