Cs Lewis A Grief Analysis

“What reason have we, except our own desperate wishes, to believe that God is, by any standard we can conceive, 'good'?Doesn't all the prima facie evidence suggest exactly the opposite? What have we to set against it?” (3). Clive Staples Lewis asserts and implores this question upon grieving the death of his beloved wife and friend, Helen Joy Davidman. Although CS Lewis is considered to be the greatest Christian theologian of the twentieth century, if not one of the most widely recognized of all time, Lewis inquires the validity of the faith he so desperately desires to believe when his wife’s parting appears counterintuitive to God’s presence, goodness, faithfulness, and love. In A Grief Observed, CS Lewis candidly describes his musings, longings, struggles, inquiries, anger, hope, confusion, and peace throughout his journey through grief after the loss of

“I might have said, 'He's got over it. He's forgotten his wife,' when the truth was, 'He remembers her better because he has partly got over it.'” (4). When analyzing Lewis’ discussion of grief, one should focus on his preconception of grief prior to his experience of loss. Prior to losing his wife, Lewis originally thought that grief was a time of extreme sorrow and anguish, but one that is eventually overcome and healed, as a barrier is overcome and conquered or an injury healed. After personally experiencing the death of Helen, Lewis begins to understand that it is a daily process of readjustment, not one of overcoming. Although healing and life can occur afterward, Lewis suggests that it cannot be the same. Nor would Lewis agree that the healing and peace of grief comes by forgetting the death and pain, rather, grief can only bring healing and peace once people accept the inevitable truth, let go of the past to a degree to move forward, and begin the journey with God into the stores of the