What Distracts Us From Who is Most Important
While taking my 14-year-old grandson to school yesterday, he asked me whether I had read C.S. Lewis’ book, “The Screwtape Letters”, as it is his required reading for English this semester. I hadn’t, though I have great respect for C.S. Lewis’ notoriety as one of the premier writers of his times and, even now, his compelling ability to really make us think deeper and open our minds to the idea that Satan is warring daily to distract us from a deeply committed relationship with God. Brennan was endeavoring to convince me of also reading Lewis’ “The Great Divorce” that was his summer required reading. Suddenly, this year, he is captivated by Lewis’ writings. I love it!
“The Screwtape Letters’ gives the correspondence of the worldly-wise devil and assistant to Satan, Screwtape, to his nephew, Wormwood, a novice demon who is in charge of securing the damnation of an ordinary young man (The Patient). Of course, I hadn’t read it — I, who am the “sugar and spice and everything nice” reader by choice. I told him I had judged a student at a Speech & Debate Competition who was performing in the character of Screwtape for his Open Interpretation speech. He was a brilliant actor and in “character” as Screwtape and portrayed him all too well, that I was uncomfortable with the “darkness” he conveyed. I didn’t rank him too high because, as a Christian organization, it seemed so foreboding and I suggested, in my notes, that it may be prudent for him to consider the “God” character instead of the “Devil” character.
As I heard Brennan’s take on the book and how it had affected him, it made me wish that I had read the book prior to hearing that young man’s speech. Brennan explained: “Nana, have you ever been in church and were praising and worshipping God? Your attention was fully on Him, and then the thought comes to you “What should I have for lunch today?”‘ That is what this book is about — how the enemy is always distracting us from keeping our attention on God.”
“Screwtape tells Wormwood to keep “the patient” from thinking whenever possible since reason will only encourage the patient to accept Christianity with greater fervency. Wormwood should try to prevent the patient from thinking about the history of Christianity, and instead influence the patient to focus excessively on the ugliness and imperfection of his peers and of family, especially his mother.
Brennan’s new open mind about a real devil and our REAL GOD made him want to think twice about decisions he makes and the attitudes he has and the way he interacts with others. It made him realize that there is a tug-of-war going on for our souls. John 10:10 says it clearly “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Yesterday, my mind opened a little more to the real possibilities that we are the target of the enemy and if he can devise ways to keep us from the abundant life Christ came to give us, he will. As my Brennan had an “aha” moment with this book and the deeper message within, maybe we should all consider the schemes, plots, strategies and tactical warfare that the enemy of our souls wishes to use against us. Consider it to the point, that he loses, because we are persuaded, convinced, unequivocally on God’s side and we will not be persuaded otherwise. “Lord I’m keeping my eyes on you, following you, my Lord!