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The subtitle of this book, “An introduction to the Christian life,” is not hyperbole. I can’t overemphasize the significance of the truths Reeves lays out with clarity, joy, and humor in chapter 1, on what God was doing before creation existed.

My expectations for this book were modest, and so far I am, at best, whelmed.

The ruin of Beleriand and the fall of Fingolfin (😭)

The coming of men into the West

Tolstoy’s “Master and Man” broke me. The end.

“…Christ has been so imparted to you with all his benefits that all his things are made yours, that you are made a member of him, indeed one with him, his righteousness overwhelms your sins… We ought not to separate Christ from ourselves or ourselves from him. Rather we ought to hold fast bravely with both hands to that fellowship by which he has bound us to himself.”

“It’s hard to get any beauty at all into a story. If and when we do, it might not be the type of beauty we’ve always dreamed of making. But we have to take whatever beauty we can get, however we can get it.”
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If you want a laugh and a thought-provoking short story, go find Saunders’ “The Falls” or “The Mom of Bold Action” (both available from The New Yorker to read or listen to via podcast).

Folks talk about books finding you at the right time: finding this book this week makes me believe that a little more. This makes me feel like I’m in my creative writing classes again; I forgot what that felt like. I needed to remember.

Book II, ch. 16 is in top 3 chapters. Calvin quoting Augustine: “The fact that we were reconciled through Christ’s death must not be understood as if his Son reconciled us to him that he might now begin to love those whom he had hated. Rather, we have already been reconciled to him who loves us, with whom we were enemies on account of sin… Thus in a marvelous and divine way he loved us even when he hated us.”

“But Ilúvatar knew that Men, being set amid the turmoils of the powers of the world, would stray often, and would not use their gifts in harmony; and he said, ‘These too in their time shall find that all they do redounds at the end only to the glory of my work.’”

Calvin on the 10 Commandments gave me much to consider. Does the Lord’s prohibition of a vice inherently command its corresponding virtue (and vice versa)? In commanding us never to covet that which belongs to our neighbor, does the Most High truly enjoin us that “whatever we conceive, deliberate, will, or attempt is to be linked to our neighbor’s good and advantage”? The law is impossible outside of Christ!

Aslan appearing to Eustace gets me every time.

1952 or 2022? “He didn’t call his Father and Mother ‘Father’ and ‘Mother,’ but Harold and Alberta. They were very up-to-date and advanced people. They were vegetarians, non-smokers and teetotalers… In their house there was very little furniture and very few clothes on beds and the windows were always open.”
Not sure if Lewis was genius or just British in his ability to mock merely by stating facts.

“And it is said by the Eldar that in water there lives yet the echo of the Music of the Ainur more than in any other substance else that is in this Earth; and many of the Children of Ilúvatar hearken still unsated to the voices of the Sea, yet know not for what they listen.”

“She never stopped to think whether he was a friendly lion or not. She rushed to him. She felt her heart would burst if she lost a moment. And the next thing she knew was that she was kissing him and putting her arms as far round his neck as she could and burying her face in the beautiful rich silliness of his mane.
‘Asian, Aslan. Dear Aslan,’ sobbed Lucy. ‘At last.’”

“…Adam would never have dared oppose God’s authority unless he had disbelieved in God’s Word. Here, indeed, was the best bridle to control all passions: the thought that nothing is better than to practice righteousness by obeying God’s commandments; then, that the ultimate goal of the happy life is to be loved by him” (2.1.4).

Book 1 ch. 16 and 17 on God’s providence blew my mind. Calvin is so devotional and unlike his popular portrayal. He leads us to worship!
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“…When that light of divine providence has once shone upon a godly man, he is then relieved and set free not only from the extreme anxiety and fear that were pressing him before, but from every care. …He fearlessly dares commit himself to God.”

“‘Aslan is on the move. The Witch’s magic is weakening.’
And Lucy felt running through her that deep shiver of gladness which you only get if you are being solemn and still.”

Road trip audiobook. Reading this book as an adult > reading this book as a teenager.

THE TRINITY. “Here…we ought to play the philosopher soberly… For how can the human mind measure off the measureless existence of God according to its own little measure…? Indeed, how can the mind by its own leading come to search out God’s essence when it cannot even get to its own? Let us then willingly leave to God the knowledge of himself.”