We had an intense but also enjoyable dialogue last night during our recording of the Up Your Dialogue podcast (Episode 6) on the life and work of writer and Christian lay theologian, C. S. Lewis [1898-1963]. L. A. Londy focused heavily on his non-fiction work, covering in some detail the autobiography Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life (1955) and the difficulty of navigating the Free Will vs. Determinism “paradox” as it applies to conversion, the nature of grief and pain and the problem of theodicy in passages from The Problem of Pain (1940) and A Grief Observed (1961), and the relationship between the natural and the supernatural in Mere Christianity (1952).
We also discussed in some detail the metaphor of the bus from hell in The Great Divorce (1945) and what the reasons could be – or should be – for taking the long commute, the corruption of man by various demons in The Screwtape Letters (1942), and biblical symbolism in Lewis’ widely celebrated seven-book series The Chronicles of Narnia (1950-56). Some years ago, L. A. recommended to me Lewis’ early collection called The Space Trilogy, and I discussed on the podcast several passages of interest from the first book, Out of the Silent Planet (1938).
My contention was that every generation of Christians would benefit from having a writer of Lewis’ caliber to popularize religious tenets and inspire the imaginations of millions of readers in unexpected and new directions. In today’s world of ubiquitous connectivity, the pervasive and invasive ways life has of constantly grasping for our attention make us wonder if we are capable of escaping long enough to enjoy, let alone explore, a private thought.
I read this passage on the podcast from early in the story where the protagonist, Dr. Ramsom, reflects on how hard this is to pull off even in 1938. The great SFF writer understands both science and prescience.
‘On a walking tour you are absolutely detached. You stop where you like and go on when you like. As long as it lasts you need consider no one and consult no one but yourself.’
‘Until one night you find a wire waiting at your hotel saying, “Come back at once,”’ replied Devine, at last removing the silver paper.
‘Only if you were fool enough to leave a list of addresses and go to them! The worst that could happen to me would be that man on the wireless saying, “Will Dr. Elwin Ransom, believed to be walking somewhere in the Midlands –”
‘I begin to see the idea,’ said Devine, pausing in the very act of drawing the cork. ‘It wouldn’t do if you were in business. You are a lucky devil! But can even you just disappear like that? No wife, no young, no aged but honest parent or anything of that sort?’”
Is it even possible to tune out our wives, children, parents, friends or bosses anymore, let alone avoid the proliferation of custom marketing, social trends and fake news on our cellphones, laptops, Bluetooth doorbell, AI personal assistant and search engine recommendation “just for you”? When was the last time you had a private thought and spent any time on a personal reflection? What do you suppose might happen if you set aside some uninterrupted time to yourself?
SPOILER ALERT: when Dr. Ransom tries it, he is kidnapped and transported on a rocket ship to Mars, discovers the various species that inhabit it and begins a journey of considering the Earth from a very different point of view. It’s the metaphysical version of the Carl Sagan-like “pale blue dot”. If you’re ever blessed with a little time to yourself, think about it. Just watch out for cosmic kidnappers with rocket ships!
_______________________
Readers are invited to visit jscotthardin.com. Thank you for your support of the Up Your Dialogue podcast, a place where two lenses combine with respect and encouragement to learn and explore our world and beyond.