During World War II, BBC radio wanted to give the British public, who were going through the Blitz, something to think about that transcended the war.
A statue of CS Lewis in Belfast, Northern Ireland. PICTURE: K Mitch Hodge/Unsplash
They asked a little-known academic to give some talks on Christianity, a foundation of English life. These talks were immensely popular and were later published as Mere Christianity. They made CS Lewis’ voice as famous as Winston Churchill.
What is really remarkable reading the book, is that you would have no idea there was a war going on when it was written. Lewis doesn’t address it.
Rather than get lost in the immediate, Lewis addressed the eternal. It’s what makes his book timeless.
One contemporary said, “The war…life…everything seemed pointless. We needed…meaning in the universe. Lewis provided just that.”
Don’t let our immediate distract you from the eternal.
Paul Clark’s musings can be heard on radio across Australia and at atthetop.org.au.