A
Grief Observed
by C.
S. Lewis
Paperback, 112
pages,
February 2001,
Harper San Francisco
IBSN:
0060652381 List Price: $9.00
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Review:
C. S. Lewis was a writer
on twentieth century Christian thought and practice. His life
was complete after he met and married Joy Davidson. Joy died
after a four-year struggle with cancer and the Cambridge scholar was
cast into the abyss of grief, doubt, anger, confusion and anguish
that takes over when a loved one dies. After Joy’s death,
this Christian apologist rages into the pages of his private
journal. He questions God, revealing doubts about long held
beliefs and acknowledges human frailty in the face of his collapsed
life. In his doubt and darkness, Lewis connects to the grief
that created this little book about life and death and God’s role
in it all.
Being only 74 pages
in the hard cover edition, Lewis’ journal after Joy’s death is
divided into four parts each with many short paragraphs. These
paragraphs enable the reader to take small bites into a profound
book, which can be chewed and digested before going on.
First, Lewis recounts his
daily numbness and disbelief that Joy is dead. He relates
grief’s symptoms: restlessness, yawning, foggy mind,
fluttering stomach, tears, self-pity, lack of energy, social
awkwardness, isolation, and wondering where God is: “But go
to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is in vain,
and what do you find? A door slammed in your face…”
In the second
section, Lewis remembers Joy and their lives together and derides
the platitudes of others: “She is with God”; “She is at
rest.” Again, it’s about God; this time with anger:
“The word good applied to Him, becomes meaningless: like
abracadabra.”
The grieving
husband tenderly examines his love for Joy and all she meant
“…my trusty comrade, friend, shipmate, fellow-soldier, my
mistress…” In the third part, Lewis continues to examine
God and continues his grieving: “Tonight all the hells of
young grief have opened again; … One keeps on emerging from a
phase, but it always recurs. Round and round.”
Lastly, Lewis looks
back on the mapless path: his anguish, grief, anger,
confusion, questions of life and death and God. Back at the
door slammed in his face, there are still no answers. He feels
his question to God is unanswerable but, takes comfort in God’s
answer: “’Peace, child; you don’t understand.’”
In my opinion, this
is not a book for the newly bereaved. After five years of
giving up on page 25, I finally finished the book and understand
what makes it praiseworthy.
....
Written by: Maureen
Dobert
Board Liaison - CT-43
E-mail: Kenmoe@aol.com |
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