Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Finding Fulfillment

C.S. Lewis writes in Mere Christianity, "What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could 'be like gods'--could set up on their own as if they had created themselves--be their own masters--invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history--money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery--the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy."

Desires are to be fulfilled. Fulfillment comes when your desires are met. And if your ultimate desire is not met here on earth (which it never will be), then the fulfillment must come from outside of us--God. That is what makes this quote true. Only God can make us happy. Isn't ridiculous how simple this all sounds. Why do we mess it up and make intimacy with God so convoluted? But we must also be careful not to reduce the infinite into a platitude (new word i learned!!). So this is life, being happy in God and discovering how immense and deeply engaging He is. Live.