Blog #3 Shadowland Part #1- A relationship between minds then hearts

 Shadowland Class Reflection (Part1)

(Unfortunately, I had an awful stomach ache the day of this class, but I took the time to watch the film independently. I find CS Lewis to be such an important figure in Christianity and my faith, and I didn't want to miss out on a single thing.)

The film begins with a funny interview between CS Lewis and an American fan named Joy, who calls herself a "lapsed atheist," just like Lewis was as well. The awkward conversation later leads to a deep friendship and marriage between the two and her son from a previous marriage. 

The film shows how her views and intellect challenged and influenced CS Lewis's ideas and writing. One conversation towards the beginning displays this idea beautifully. Joy proclaims, "Reading is safe; experience is everything," Lewis replies, "Who said experiences are the only place you learn?" While this quote may seem simple, it feels profound to be said by Lewis. He always emphasizes pain and experience as how we step outside ourselves. Still, the way he describes reading is an experience as well, and "Reading allows you to know we are not alone"- students stealing books. The lesson holds the power to cause pain, and emotions can be aroused by simply reading the pain of another. That still adds perspectives and pain pulling one outside of their suffering and lends itself to shared grief, making the reader feel less alone. In the preface of "surprised by Joy," CS Lewis says reading allows us to say, "what! Have you felt that too? I always thought I was the only one'" (XI).

Another Quote that stuck out to me from the film was, "I don't know if God particularly wants us to be happy; he was us to love and be love, yet he wants us to grow up; we think our childish toys bring us all the happiness there is, unnecessary is the whole wide world, something must drive us outside our little world inside a world with others, that something is suffering."- CS Lewis.

This idea from the film was profound yet consistent with CS Lewis's other works. It takes discomfort to gain perspective, empathy, and appreciation for the divine. Without pain, we don't seek strength from outward forces. A life without pain would not seek a God. Pain is the physical or mental display of a lacking humans. It shows how our work and efforts can only get us so far, and the divine carries us farther and past those feelings of pain. Pain not only pulls us out of ourselves to seek a God, but it also allows us to seek the love of others and give love to others. It allows us to connect with people over our suffering. Every single person struggles, and every single person has a different way of dealing with this suffering. 

This sounds like a funny takeaway, but Joy and CS Lewis's relationship shows how a romantic partner impacts your life and purpose. The women and men you commit your life to influence your way of life and thoughts and narratives directly. Their relationship challenged and encouraged beliefs to go further and more profound. They question and support one another, which is illustrated well in this film. Their relationship was first developed on the intellectual level and then on the heart level, much like C.S Lewis's books were written.