From C.S. Lewis
All this is flashy rhetoric about loving you.
I never had a selfless thought since I was born.
I am mercenary and self-seeking through and through;
I want God, you, all friends, merely to serve my turn.
Peace, reassurance,pleasure, are the goals I seek,
I cannot crawl one inch outside my proper skin;
I talk of love -- a scholar's parrot may talk Greek --
But, self-imprisoned, always end where I begin.
Was Lewis being too hard on himself? I don't think so. And if we're honest, do we not all have to say that this poem describes the condition of our hearts as well? I know it does mine. Frustrating, but true. Thank God for grace!
posted by Bobby @ 9:37 AM
9 comments
9 Comments:
Sounds to me he's unsure of what he's trying to say. Sounds like mumbo-jumbo. Like he's pulling words out of a dictionary at random and tring to make it sound like he knows what he's talking about. When you get done reading it, you're not sure what or where he's going with it. He's a perfect canidate for management position at Humana. Seizure later...
Actually, it makes perfect sense. At times we are oblivious even to our own sinfulness. Because of our sinful state everythiny thing that we do is out of selfish ambition, even speaking words of love to loved ones, or spending time with friends and family, our motivation is selfish. We speak words of love in hopes to get a loving response in return to feed our own egotistical hunger. Not until Christ comes and we reside with him forever will our actions and thoughts be perfectly motivated.
I love this. What is it from? It absolutely resonates with me. I've argued for a long time that no one does anything 100% unselfishly. Like you said, thank Jesus for grace. It is truly our only hope for redemption. And it's the only thing that makes the paradox of being a sinner AND a saint possible.
Will: Will, Will, Will ....
Lorie: I'm not sure what it's originally from, but it's quoted in "Blue Like Jazz." It jumped out at me so I thought I'd share it.
Rectum so.
Um ... seriously, though. The more you think about our depravity, the more we realize what a great love we've been shown, and just how big grace is.
Everyone has their own opinions. So what makes sense to some people, may not to others. Humana is hiring, you might want to apply. Seizure later...
CS Lewis always says the thing that I am thinking. And he says it so well! I am all about myself. Even when I think- this isn't about me- it usually is. I really want to learn to be selfless, to "consider others better" but it is a difficult thing for me to grasp.
It is both sad and fascinating that, even when I think I'm being my most selfless and giving, when I really think about it, I have to acknowledge that I'm still looking out for, protecting, or promoting myself.
That is so true that it hurts to read it. I'm pretty sure that everything I've ever done has been because of some personal agenda. I try to serve the Lord and love others with the attitude that Christ wants us ot have, but all too often I catch myself trying to act 'Godly' because that's just what Christians do. Or because I'm trying to prove to God that I'm worthy of salvation.
How wonderful that God's grace is sufficient to cover our conceit.
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