In a scene from Shadowlands, a film based on the life of C.S. Lewis, Lewis has returned to Oxford from London, where he has just been married to Joy Gresham, an American woman, in a private Episcopal ceremony performed at her hospital bedside. She is dying from cancer, and, through the struggle with her illness, she and Lewis have been discovering the depth of their love for each other. As Lewis arrives at the college where he teaches, he is met by Harry Harrington, an Episcopal priest, who asks what news there is. Lewis hesitates; then, deciding to speak of the marriage and not the cancer, he says, Ah, good news, I think, Harry. Yes, good news. Harrington, not aware of the marriage and thinking that Lewis is referring to Joys medical situation, replies, I know how hard youve been praying .... Now, God is answering your prayer. Thats not why I pray, Harry, Lewis responds. I pray because I cant help myself. I pray because Im helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesnt change God; it changes me. Isnt that true? We all desperately need God and were all helpless without Him. But the problem is, we sometimes act as if our relationship with God is optional. Meaning, we only pray when were in trouble. We only seek His face when were confused or in pain. We only read our Bible when we need an answer from Him.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 04:36:58 +0000
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