Monday, October 07, 2013

Soirée Pop/rock, Poésie & Peinture

L'association protestante évangélique castrogontérienne organise une Soirée Pop/rock, Poésie & Peinture le 12 octobre dans la Salle de la Motte Vauvert, Château-Gontier, à partir de 19h. C'est une occasion de découvrir les chansons de Michelle et moi-même en tant que Liv'in'Proof, la poésie de Denis Gaultier, et les tableaux de Chantal B. La soirée est gratuite, et ouverte à tous :-)

Saturday, October 05, 2013

Reflections on the Psalms - C.S.Lewis

Just wanted to note down a few thoughts from reading this great little book by C.S. Lewis 'Reflections on the Psalms'.

Firstly, in chapter II he talks about 'Judgement In The Psalms' and what particularly struck me, is how he draws the readers attention to the book of Judges in the Bible.  He points out that we often have an image of God as Judge, to punish the guilty, etc., but the Jewish idea of a Judge was someone who maintained justice, and rendered justice to an injured party.  Hence longing for judgement, because you had been wronged, for example.  He talks about the idea of fairness, justice, equity.  But what particularly struck me was when he talks about the judges in the book of Judges who were actually champions of the people, and it's related to the idea of providing fairness.  The judges were raised up by God to vanquish an enemy who was mistreating them, a judge saves, protects, frees, liberates, sets things right.  Hence, God is our judge, our champion, our saviour, our protector, our liberator!  Excellent!  He rights wrongs, and brings about justice.

Then in chapter IX he has a 'A Word About Praising' in which he points out that praising is a natural part of life:
". . . all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise unless (sometimes even if) shyness or the fear of boring others is deliberately brought in to check it. The world rings with praise - lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favourite poet, walkers praising the countryside, playesr praising their favourite game . . ." (p80)

And it's so true, which of us when we're caught up with a great book, or piece of music, or film, doesn't easily tell our friends of it's greatness, and the pleasure we derive from it.  It's natural, normal, to give praise.

He goes on to say :
I had not noticed how the humblest, and at the same time most balanced and capacious, minds, praised most, while the cranks, the misfits and malcontents praised least. The good critics found something to praise in many imperfect works; the bad ones continually narrowed the list of books we might be allowed to read. . . . Except where intolerably adverse circumstances interfere, praise almost seems to be inner health made audible."(p80)

Praise is normal, natural and healthy.  Personally, I thought that was particularly cool.

Then in chapter X 'Hidden Meanings' he reminds us that God can and often does choose to communicate elements of his truth through those who do not claim to any relationship with him, or even claim to have none.
". . . in mythology divine and diabolical and human elements . . . all play a part" claims C.S.Lewis, so that when we read, be it fiction, philosophy, comics, or whatever, we can be struck anew by aspects of the truth of God.  God communicates to us through what we're reading, God communicates through the author, whether that author claims to know God or not.  Just like he did with Cyrus (see Isaiah 45:1-6)