COLUMN: Think Again – The enduring relevance of C.S. Lewis

Suppose you were searching for insight into some of life’s deepest challenges today. Where would you look?

Chances are you might be skeptical if I recommended an author who died more than 60 years ago, married someone only as a favour so she could stay inside the country, and spent most of his career as an ivory tower university professor.

And yet, C. S. Lewis continues to impact lives today. Through his Chronicles of Narnia series, Lewis retold the Christian story in such a way that it appeals to Christians and non-Christians alike. This children’s series is even more impressive when we consider that Lewis never had children of his own and often found it awkward being around them.

Lewis also wrote a great deal of non-fiction. Probably his most famous non-fiction work is Mere Christianity, a book which makes the case for universal moral absolutes and answers some of the trickiest questions about theology. Originally delivered as a series of radio talks in the 1940s, they were later made into a book and published in 1952.

For those who are interested in learning more about C. S. Lewis and the remarkable life he lived, Terry Glaspey’s 2022 book, Not a Tame Lion: The Life, Teachings, and Legacy of C.S. Lewis is a great place to start.

The first half of Glaspey’s book retells some of key highlights of Lewis’s life. It’s here where we learn that Lewis served on the front lines in the First World War, lived with and cared for the mother of one of his best friends until she died decades later, and often struggled to balance his professional scholarly work with his desire to write for a popular audience.

Glaspey also retells the highly unusual love story of Lewis and Joy Davidman Gresham. Originally from the United States, Gresham moved to the United Kingdom after her husband divorced her in 1954. Her initial acquaintance with Lewis was through letter correspondence, although they also struck up a personal friendship. As a favour to Gresham, Lewis agreed to marry her in a civil ceremony so that she could remain the United Kingdom.

However, what started as a purely practical arrangement quickly turned into a genuine love affair. What added to the complexity of their lives was that Gresham had been diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1956. Incredibly, the cancer went into remission, and they enjoyed several happy years of marriage.

Unfortunately, the cancer eventually returned and Gresham died in 1960. This sent Lewis into a tailspin of grief, during which he wrote the book, A Grief Observed. Originally published anonymously, Glaspey notes that multiple people sent Lewis copies of this book, thinking it would help him with his own grief. It was only after Lewis’s death in 1963 that it was revealed that Lewis had been the author.

In the second half of Not a Tame Lion, Glaspey outlines how Lewis addressed some of the trickiest theological challenges. From the problem of pain to questions about the effectiveness of prayer, Lewis was not afraid to talk about the issues that ordinary Christians often struggle to resolve.

I enjoyed Glaspey’s book because it reminded me of the many ways that Lewis’s writings have benefited me personally. When I taught Grade 5, I read the entire Chronicles of Narnia series to my students every year. While they certainly appreciated it, I enjoyed it as well. The depth of insight into theology and human nature in that series is simply incredible.

If you’re looking for a writer who can help you make sense of the toughest challenges facing the world today, check out C.S. Lewis. You won’t be disappointed.

Michael Zwaagstra is a teacher and deputy mayor of Steinbach. He can be reached at mzwaagstra@shaw.ca.