My brother, Joel, gave me a book for Christmas. It's a collection of excerpts from the writings of C.S. Lewis arranged as 365 daily readings and entitled The Business of Heaven. It also has selected readings appropriate for Feast and Fast days of the liturgical year.I've placed the book on my morning reading shelf and plan to have a little C.S. Lewis everyday in 2009. It's a very simple way to make the New Year a little brighter. Thanks, Joel.
I thought I'd share this passage from the January 2 reading. Lewis talks about the whirlwind of ideas and goals that rush in upon us at the beginning of each day and threaten to distract us from what is most important. Here at the beginning of 2009, it seems appropriate to expand his concept to the beginning of each year.
"The real problem of the Christian life comes where peope do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to tht other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussing and frettings; coming in out of the wind."
(C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, ch. 8)
