The Great Divorce, is a novel written by esteemed author C.S. Lewis, and it is a story taking you on a jounrey through the idea of Heaven, Hell, and possibly Purgatory. Lewis takes the role of main character and is taken out of "grey town," via a flying bus to this other land where they suddenly become ghosts. This land is beautiful, but, because he is not solid, it is painful to walk on the grass, or really do anything in this place inhabited by giant glowing people. The goal is to get to the Mountains and become solid on the way. Lewis then makes his way to the Mountains but observes the interactions of the other ghosts with the glowing inhabitants. Ultimately, most of the other ghosts turn back because the journey is too hard, and they can't let go of their desires from back in grey town. Ultimately, I think Lewis is trying to show the reader the kind of sanctification and repentace that is needed in order to make the journey, become solid, and arrive at paradise in the Mountains.
This book is filled with so many great messages and challenges. The whole story uses narrative and metaphor, but also real life problems and feelings, to demonstrate the different walks people are going through trying, some harder than others, to reach the goal of the Mountains. I think that Lewis' writing style of mystical, vivid, somewhat of a blurry dream, really causes the reader to think and ponder what is the purpose of the story. While it is hard to wrap your head around at first, I think it is worth the effort in trying to immerse yourself into the story and into the loopy dream of Lewis. There are so many great stories to learn from and lessons to be learned from his writing.
In my Worship Arts class, I made it evident to the class that stories from chapter eleven were my favorite. There are two different encounters that occur in chapter eleven, both are so good and have so much wisdom behind them, but my favoirte story is the ghost with the lizard on his shoulder. In this story, the ghost has a lizard on his shoulder whispering lies and suggesting desirable living, and the ghost knows that he can't progress any closer to the Mountains if the lizard stays with him. One of the majestic glowing angels offers to kill the lizard for him, but it is an extremely painful sacrifice for the ghost to make. The ghost knows what is good for him but is scared of the pain that come with detachment from the lizard. After wrestling with this for a long time, he decides to let the angel burn the lizard off. It is a hard and terribly painful process, but the result was transformative. The ghost becomes solid, grows, and starts glowing like the angel, while the lizard transform into the most glorious, pure white stallion. After this transformation, Lewis describes the transformed ghost saying, "When he rose I thought his face shone with tears, but it may have been only the liquid love and brightness (one cannot distinguish them in that country) which flowed from him" (Lewis 112). This part was especially profound and moving for me becuase it shows the beauty of our testimonies. When the lizard transforms into a horse, I think that shows the wonderful work God does with our sin; it is not longer something that holds us back but through the transformative testimony we are able to overcome. It is personally touching for me because it feels so relatable. I know what it feel likes to be struggling with sin, knowing the solution, being afraid of the process, but feeling the freedom and glory as the reward of surrendering your will. I have read The Great Divorce three times now and, every time, this chapter shifts my heart to a play a gratitude for the work Christ has done in my life.
I think this book is useful for the Church when addressing the different things we worship. It is hard at times to confront things deep within us that we are holding on to that are keeping us from fully surrendering to God. In order to say, 'yes' to God we have to have are hands completely open before him. This book does a good job at cutting deep to things that keep us from loving and worshipping God as the primary focus. Whether it is access of love for a child, love of personal justice, love of knowledge, love of work, greed, or pride, this book addresses how all those things can interfer with our love for God. The Church would benfit from an intense and intentional reflection on these things we worship. Not just in feelings at an altar call or worship, but prayerfully seeking the Holy Spirit as he reveals to you what you are clinging to. While this book is not Scripture and shouldn't be taken as so, I think God uses this book to challenge us if we are willing to expand our imaginations and let the Holy Spirit work through Lewis' words. This book has been so beneficial for my spiritual growth; I love it and would recommend the Church to read it, and enjoy it!
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