Photo Credit: C. S. Lewis, AZ Quotes
Here’s a bit of this beautiful rabbit trail of exploring “joy” as my word of the year 2022. One turn building on another.
Last week, I read the small and endearing volume C. S. Lewis’ Letters to Children. That led to watching two of the The Chronicles of Narnia films. From there Dave began re-reading the book series, and I searched out the film The Most Reluctant Convert: the Untold Story of C. S. Lewis.
We watched that film (which I highly recommend), at home, during which I wrote pages of notes from the rich and thought-provoking dialog. The film featured a biopic of both a young C. S. Lewis and his older self. Beautifully filmed and intriguing as it unfolded Lewis’ childhood, his academic life as an atheist, and then his wrestling with the idea of God…and then the reality of Him. Lewis was literally “surprised by joy“.
Surprised by Joy: the Shape of My Early Life – C. S. Lewis (his autobiography)
What is joy? It’s way more than happiness. In fact, this feeling of joy can even be experienced in a hard place, in suffering, even despair.
“The difference between shallow happiness and a deep, sustaining joy is sorrow. Happiness lives where sorrow is not. When sorrow arrives, happiness dies. It can’t stand pain. Joy, on the other hand, rises from sorrow and therefore can withstand all grief. Joy, by the grace of God, is the transfiguration of suffering into endurance, and of endurance into character, and of character into hope–and the hope that has become our joy does not (as happiness must for those who depend up on it) disappoint us.” –Walter Wangerin Jr.
Joy is not something that we can produce nor can we hold onto it. It is a glimpse of Heaven. It points to something larger, something beyond the moment. It is not to be made an idol of (a good word for someone holding it close as her word for the year). It is a glorious gift – it sharpens our experience of beauty and love. It assures and sustains us. It gives pause. It fills all the space we give it.
You know that magical moment when a sunrise reaches its full beauty and then fades fast into day. We want the moment to last longer, but we still have the experience of it, the memory of it, and the hope of it coming again. Joy is a snapshot of the goodness of God…of God Himself, the Joy-giver.
As the sunrise faded this morning, I pulled out a selection of books from our large C. S. Lewis collection to revisit on his take on joy. Do you have a favorite of his books?
Just a little of how Lewis describes joy:
“In a sense the central story of my life is about nothing else…it is that of an unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction. I call it Joy…a technical term and must be sharply distinguished from Happiness and from Pleasure. Joy has one characteristic…in common with them; the fact that anyone who has experienced it will want it again…It might almost equally well be called a particular kind of unhappiness or grief. But then it is a kind we want.
Joy must have the stab, the pang, the inconsolable longing…All Joy reminds [“Look! Look! What do I remind you of?”]. It is never a possession, always a desire for something longer ago or further away or still “about to be”.
Joy is the serious business of Heaven.” – C. S. Lewis, Surprised by Joy
I will share one brief story where, in a moment of terrible loss, I was “surprised by joy”. Many years ago, our Chad, a cherished young nephew of ours died, at 23 y/o, in a car accident. It was horrific for everyone in the family because he was so dear to all of us. There came that moment, with the family gathered, that we were able to see him at the funeral home. I remember vividly saying silently to God that the test of His promise of grace sufficient was before us. To walk into the room and face the reality of Chad’s being with us no more was terrifying. Yet…God showed up. It was awful but in a surreal way. None of us tried to comfort each other; there just weren’t words. Yet, it was like we were all being held up, held together, held close. Leaning in, surrounding that casket…loving that boy. Longing to see him alive again…and assured, truly comforted, we would, one day, see him again.
Maybe no one else had the experience I had…but I believe it was common to all of us…they wouldn’t label it joy, I don’t think, but it was a joy that burst in…at a time of shock and sadness. A joy that helped us keep breathing and hold together rather than push away.
Photo Credit: C. S. Lewis, AZ Quotes
So…I’m on a journey to discover joy in its many forms…and watch for whom it points. A signpost. A marker. Joy.
7 Thoughts on Joy From C. S. Lewis – Dawn Klinge
How Do You Define Joy? – John Piper – Desiring God
The Quotable Lewis – Edited by Wayne Martindale and Jerry Root
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Fun that Dad has started on a Narnia reread- he’ll have to tell S, we’re working our way through them too.
Until last year I’d only read those of his works, then I had some book club accountability that helped me get through Mere Christianity which is brilliantly simple and genius simultaneously. Plan to read at least one of his other works this year, may have to borrow one from you. 🙂
And the story of joy and Chad – ❤️
Thanks for reading, Christie. It means the world to me. And for taking on Lewis with your kids and for your own growth. Excellent reads…worth plowing through (those deeper books).
Very much enjoyed this post. I remember reading them to our preschool sons in Saudi Arabia. A friend told me that I shouldn’t do that, that it would ruin it for them later. Not true. We read them again as they were elementary age while traveling by car to visit family in Colo. I gave the set to our younger son as an adult. His brother read the set to his son as well. Pleasant memories. Marge
I agree…sweet memories through generations. Thanks, Marge, for stopping by.
I loved reading this, Debbie. I look forward to seeing how you are “surprised by joy’ all this year.
CS Lewis is one of my all time favorites–if not my most favorite. I read these to my children and now Nathan looks forward to reading them to his son. I read them to a class full of second graders (many with English as their second language) who were held captive by the stories and the language used to convey those stories.
Thanks so much, Linda. One “surprised by joy” possibilities would be to see you. For now, I appreciate your comment. C. S. Lewis’ stories are so captivating. I’m sure your students were enrapt…miss you and thank God for you, Friend.