I am in the process of re-reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. One of the reasons I don’t have time to read the newest, hot off the press, cutting edge books is that there are so many great books that deserve being read again. The Screwtape Letters is one of those. I am reading only one “letter” at a time and savoring it as I go.
Today the topic was the fear and suffering that is brought on by war. Of course Lewis is talking about World War II but with our concerns about a nuclear Iran and international terrorism we are in a time with similar fears.
Screwtapes nephew, Wormword, is a junior demon. He is tasked with destroying a certain human for eternity. The advice given to him is “So do not allow any temporary excitement to distract you from the real business of undermining faith and preventing the development of virtues.” (page 22) This is reminder to us.
In uncertain times we are not to be distracted by the enemy. We are to continue to seek to grow as believers and followers of the living Christ. We are to be upright and blameless.
That does not mean we stop voting or writing letters. It means that we are to do it all in the thoughtful loving style that is typical of people who follow a righteous, holy God who is also love.
Lewis, C.S. The Screwtape Letters. Norwalk, Connecticut: The Easton Press, 2002.
homo unius libri
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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.