"But if you are a poor creature—poisoned by a wretched upbringing in some house full of vulgar jealousies and senseless quarrels—saddled, by no choice of your own, with some loathsome sexual perversion—nagged day in and day out by an inferiority complex that makes you snap at your best friends—do not despair. He knows all about it. You are one of the poor whom he blessed. He knows what a wretched machine you are trying to drive. Keep on. Do what you can. One day (perhaps in another world, but perhaps far sooner than that) he will fling it on the scrapheap and give you a new one. And then you may astonish us all—not least yourself: for you have learned your driving in a hard school. (Some of the last will be first and some of the first will be last.)"--C.S. LewisI'm reminded me of the time I met Douglas Gresham, C.S. Lewis' stepson. I was a complete basket case. A nervous wreck. I was at some Narnia promo thing, in line to talk to him and get his autograph. I tried desperately to calm myself down whilst I waited. I took deep breaths. Prayed. But nothing helped. By the time I got to him, my voice started quivering, my knees shaking. I mumbled a few things, and something about, "I can't wait to meet C.S. in heaven." He just kind of stared blankly at me, his mouth slightly open, and nodded. I'm sure I came across to him as nothing less than a psychopath. As soon as I got his autograph, I turned and left...and started crying. I kid you not.
Oh well, I hope you enjoy the quote as much as I did.
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2 comments:
Cool quote and post. Thanks for sharing.
ang, you know i met ole dougie g. too! he was wearing an australian sheepherding outfit. i was on a tour of the home he shared with his step-da c.s. and mom joy. it was nothing less than thrilling but i was so tired from all the travelling at that point that i was a little nonplussed. he was very cordial! he talked about how he used to sneak out of the side door of the top floor, that had a stairway leading down to the ground, not smart, english builders!..he stayed with c.s. until he was old enough to go off to school etc. apparently lewis was a good stepfather to him, as he still speaks of him fondly and tries to keep his legacy alive in various ways.
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