A warning or an encouragement?

A warning or an encouragement?

“There is either a warning or an encouragement here for every one of us. If you are a nice person- if virtue comes easily to you- beware! Much is expected from those to whom much is given. If you mistake for your own merits what are really God’s gifts to you through nature, and if you are contented with simply being nice, you are still a rebel: and all those gifts will only make your fall more terrible, your corruption more complicated, your bad example more disastrous. The devil was an archangel once; his natural gifts were as far above yours as yours are above a chimpanzee.

But if you are a poor creature-poisoned by a wretched upbringing in some house full of vulgar jealousies and senseless quarrels- saddled, by no choice of your own, with some loathsome sexual perversion- nagged day in and day out by an inferiority complex that makes you snap at your best friends- do not despair. He knows all about it. You are one of the poor whom he has blessed. He knows what a wretched machine you are trying to drive. Keep on. Do what you can. One day (perhaps in another world, but perhaps far sooner than that)He will fling it on the scrap heap and give you a new one. And then you may astonish us all-not least yourself: for you have learned your driving in a hard school. (Some of the last will be fist and some of the first will be last).”

C.S.Lewis. Mere Christianity

How did Professor Lewis know me and my family so well? In a recent conversation with my older brother, he reminded me of a fight my parents had behind closed doors. It was the swinging 60s. We don’t know what happened but my mom used words that we never heard her say before or since. At some point she left us for weeks. That house, that home, that atmosphere of perversion and anger, it colors me still. And God knows. He knows my innocence was stolen. He knows the wreck of a life I was given to drive. Someday I will be free of it all, but in the meantime I am helped and I am understood. I am forgiven and am loved. So I keep on and I do what I can.

I hope this helps someone today.

“3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:3-10 – NIV