Human and Sensible Things

Written by Jack Faulkner

April 3, 2020

In English class, my teacher shared a passage from C.S. Lewis’ work “On Living in an Atomic Age” (1948).  Lewis said, “This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things― praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts― not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies, but they need not break our minds”. Considering our current situation, the parallels are obvious. 

    My encouragement today is just that: to do sensible and human things. We have dealt with much worse as humans and the world faces all sorts of destruction every day. So why should we let this pandemic cripple us and take over our everyday lives? I’m not saying to not be prudent or to not follow the government guidelines, but I am saying that we should live as well as we can within the boundaries that we’ve been given. Do a puzzle, go on a walk with your family, write a story, read, zoom with friends, start a project. 

    God calls us to offer up our bodies to Him as a living sacrifice. Within the new structure and flow of our life, in what ways can we worship God in NEW ways as well. God calls his people to sing a new song, not an old one. A fresh one not a stale, worn-out one.