infinite joy
photo by Lee Keefer
“If there lurks in most modern minds
the notion that to desire our own good
and earnestly hope for the enjoyment of it
is a bad thing,
I submit that this notion has crept in
from Kant and the Stoics
and is no part of the Christian faith.
Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises
of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards
promised in the Gospels,
it would seem that Our Lord
finds our desires not too strong,
but too weak.
We are half-hearted creatures,
fooling around with drink and sex and ambition
when infinite joy is offered us,
like an ignorant child who wants
to go on making mud pies in the slum
because he cannot imagine what is meant
by the offer of a holiday at the sea.
We are far too easily pleased.”
- C. S. Lewis
“Jesus knew that all mankind
were in the pursuit of happiness.
He has directed them in the true way to it,
and He tells them what they must become
in order to be blessed and happy.”
- Jonathan Edwards
photo by Lee Keefer
“If there lurks in most modern minds
the notion that to desire our own good
and earnestly hope for the enjoyment of it
is a bad thing,
I submit that this notion has crept in
from Kant and the Stoics
and is no part of the Christian faith.
Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises
of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards
promised in the Gospels,
it would seem that Our Lord
finds our desires not too strong,
but too weak.
We are half-hearted creatures,
fooling around with drink and sex and ambition
when infinite joy is offered us,
like an ignorant child who wants
to go on making mud pies in the slum
because he cannot imagine what is meant
by the offer of a holiday at the sea.
We are far too easily pleased.”
- C. S. Lewis
“Jesus knew that all mankind
were in the pursuit of happiness.
He has directed them in the true way to it,
and He tells them what they must become
in order to be blessed and happy.”
- Jonathan Edwards
1 comment:
Amen! So true! Our mortal minds just can't fathom...
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