Learning in Wartime

I was intrigued as to what C.S. Lewis would have to say about learning in times of war; I did not expect this essay to be a reminder of any practical truth. Yet once again, Lewis points us back to God, as he does in all of his writings. This quote that struck me the most in his essay:

“‘Whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.’ All our merely natural activities will be accepted, if they are offered to God, even the humblest: and all of them, even the noblest, will be sinful if they are not.”

Lewis has such a powerful way of reminding us that no matter what we do, in every action, in every breath, in every thought, we are directing ourselves towards heaven or hell; we are living for Christ, or we are not. If we think of life in these terms, our lives and small decisions have such great significance. How can God make such a small action of mine something glorious for His Kingdom? How can such a “small sin” be such a stumbling block and opportunity for Satan? And yet, it is so. Lewis' quote served as a great reminder that I am writing a song with my life story. Every decision is like a note in a song; every note is so discrete, yet every note can be heard; multiple notes gone wrong will ruin entire parts of a song. Yet every well placed note will combine with others to create a beautiful melody of praise to God.

I found that Lewis’ concluding paragraph brought up an important point that relates to our previous class discussions about happiness.

“All the animal life in us, all schemes of happiness that centered in this world, were always doomed to a final frustration.”

We were never destined to find our satisfaction in pleasures of this earth. These things are all temporary and, as Lewis wrote, “doomed to final frustration.” God has designed us to find our joy and satisfaction in Him. The things of this earth are fleeting; when we turn to them for satisfaction that we can only find in God, we are left distraught and empty because these things will always let us down when they come to an end.

Our lives will sing a song of praise to something, be that God, be that the hopeless search for happiness, or be that some other idol. Ultimately we find our satisfaction in living our lives for God and committing every day to Him and his purposes.