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ciaochow's review
4.0
This was at times rather difficult to get through. At an attempt to rationalise what he's going through at the loss of his wife, Lewis writes so lucidly his muddled thought process - that is, one of honesty.
He wrestles with opposing ideas, but ultimately he is also clear that his faith has not wavered. At its core the book is a long lamentation, full of anger and sorrow. As a reader it was quite clear that he simply cannot find a better answer for the problem of pain. He concludes, "Reality the iconoclast once more. Heaven will solve our problems, but not, I think, by showing us subtle reconciliations between all our apparently contradictory notions. The notions will all be knocked from under our feet. We shall see that there never was a problem."
I am left feeling conflicted. How difficult it is: that I myself do not know what I really think about the "problem" at all! A part of me is hopeful that what Lewis is saying is true - but a part of me thinks it naive. I'd like to think that I'll give it more thought. But the truth is I do not know if I'll have the same mindset when reality hits. But like Lewis, I know that when I have to, I can lament about it - and that I too cannot find an answer to grief.
This afternoon I also watched the film Shadowlands, based briefly on A Grief Observed and Lewis' experience meeting and marrying his wife H/Joy. I have to say with the book and film, tears had to be withheld. It was so tender, what a genuine experience.
Part of it also reminded me a bit of Kate Bowler's book, Everything Happens for a Reason. Bowler focused on her grief in direct respect to the prosperity gospel, but while Lewis was not living a time where that was prevalent, he deals briefly with the theme too.
He wrestles with opposing ideas, but ultimately he is also clear that his faith has not wavered. At its core the book is a long lamentation, full of anger and sorrow. As a reader it was quite clear that he simply cannot find a better answer for the problem of pain. He concludes, "Reality the iconoclast once more. Heaven will solve our problems, but not, I think, by showing us subtle reconciliations between all our apparently contradictory notions. The notions will all be knocked from under our feet. We shall see that there never was a problem."
I am left feeling conflicted. How difficult it is: that I myself do not know what I really think about the "problem" at all! A part of me is hopeful that what Lewis is saying is true - but a part of me thinks it naive. I'd like to think that I'll give it more thought. But the truth is I do not know if I'll have the same mindset when reality hits. But like Lewis, I know that when I have to, I can lament about it - and that I too cannot find an answer to grief.
This afternoon I also watched the film Shadowlands, based briefly on A Grief Observed and Lewis' experience meeting and marrying his wife H/Joy. I have to say with the book and film, tears had to be withheld. It was so tender, what a genuine experience.
Part of it also reminded me a bit of Kate Bowler's book, Everything Happens for a Reason. Bowler focused on her grief in direct respect to the prosperity gospel, but while Lewis was not living a time where that was prevalent, he deals briefly with the theme too.
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