Faith, Friends and Wordsmithery: A Discussion of Vocation :: Essays Papers

Faith, Friends and Wordsmithery: A Discussion of Vocation In professing English literature, pastoring a congregation, and writing poetry, C.S. Lewis, Heidi Neumark, and Kathleen Norris are linked in their search to more fully perceive the face of God in their living and writing. Their spiritual autobiographies account for an evolution in their understandings of vocation and faith, each beholding something akin to what Lewis calls â€Å"Joy,† a fleeting desire for something beyond us and this world, often awakened in the written word. Be it writing of the diversity of a South Bronx church in Breathing Space, discerning the meaning of astonishing beauty in English literature detailed in Surprised by Joy, or in poetic reflections of ascetic landscape in Dakota, these authors share how their vocations as wordsmiths link with their identity as Christians. From early childhood, Lewis was drawn to imaginary worlds of â€Å"dressed animals† and â€Å"knights in armor† (Surprised by Joy 13). His literary fascination with that beyond what sight alone conceives, to that which stimulates the soul, followed him throughout his life. It is no surprise that he accepted a fellowship at Magdalen in 1925, and went on to teach English literature, Philosophy (â€Å"very badly†) and the Greats, given his extensive liaison with the tangible and abstract in literature, as well as his brilliant expertise in several literary canons (215). Within such a world, Lewis embraced an enduring source of â€Å"Joy,† elusive and yet persistent, throughout the political chaos of his own life and his dogged rejection of anything resembling the â€Å"Christian myth† (215). Through the written word, Lewis found an understanding of a higher source of living more readily than he’d ever experienced in church or in conversation with various religious spokespeople. Throughout his wretched and then blessed years of schooling, Lewis was haunted by â€Å"the Idea of Autumn,† enfleshed through fleeting experiences with â€Å"Joy† in poetry. Finding â€Å"an unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction† reading great Nordic works, Lewis was â€Å"uplifted into huge regions of northern sky† desiring â€Å"something never to be described† and then finding himself â€Å"at the very same moment already falling out of that desire and wishing† he was back in it (17). This â€Å"central story† of his life, this passion for Joy, came to take on many forms as Lewis the boy grew into Lewis the English scholar, and then into Lewis, a Christian. Even after his ultimate conversion to Chri stianity, the â€Å"old stab† of Joy came â€Å"as often and as sharply† as â€Å"at any time† in his life while reading and writing (238).