5.0 out of 5 based on 1 reviews. – Customer review on 09/01/2007

Of all the C.S. Lewis books I've read, so far, this one is by far the most philisophical. There is much meat here and much to chew on and think about (almost too much). Each sentence has something profound to think about and ponder over. Mr. Lewis has a tenancy to drift from one thought to the next, much like G.K. Chesterton did in his books. This makes following the book a little bit difficult. Still, that is the mark of a book of substance in my opinion. It means I'll be able to pick it up and read it over and over and over again and learn something new from it with each reading. How many books can you say this about? Not too many.
The painful longings we experience in this life go unfulfilled because we are obviously not made for this life. Every time we try to fill those longings or comfort our pains, be it with something or someone, we always end up feeling very unsatisfied in the end. Therefore, it goes to say that our experience of pain and longing in this life is so that we may know *REAL* joy and pleasure in the next. And more importantly, to have a much greater appreciation for it! That is why we must exibit courage in this life.
That we each have a special place for us in heaven is a given. As C.S. Lewis puts it, "...we are like a key, cut in a certain way, that is casting about for its missing and matching padlock".
However, one must allow God to have his good way so that we may realize this ultimate union of key to padlock or man to heaven. And ignoring or leaving God out of the picture is not the way to go about doing it.