had a setback...don't give up

Reading our Daily Bread yesterday, David C. McCasland titled A Letter from C.S Lewis, a correspondence dated some 52 years ago in which a then high school student asked Lewis about was he tempted when writing the book Screwtape Letters. Lewis wrote the book during WW2 about a senior demon advising a junior demon about a hindering a man who just came to faith. I remember Lewis commenting on the popularity of the book which he felt people owned but did not read. I recommend you get a copy and sit in your reading chair with a cup of tea and have a read. After 40 years I have recently reread the book.

McCasland writes,

"In September 1961, Harvey Karlsen, a high school student in Brooklyn, New York, wrote to C. S. Lewis in England. Harvey had read Lewis’ book The Screwtape Letters and asked the author, “When you wrote this book, did Satan give you any trouble, and if he did, what did you do about it?”

Three weeks later, Lewis penned a reply in which he affirmed that he still had plenty of temptations. He said that in facing them, “Perhaps . . . the most important thing is to keep on; not to be discouraged however often one yields to the temptation, but always to pick yourself up again and ask forgiveness.”

Sounds very British doesn't it; "Keep on; not to be discouraged...pick yourself up again" The asking forgiveness as needed is very Biblical and true to life. Temptations and failure happen, we have set backs all the time. God is the one who knows us better than we know ourselves, keeping our walk with Him up to date and gaining victory beats giving up.

Today I fell again and picked up a few more bruises. Nothing serious but I admit I don't like the experience. But with experience I have gotten pretty good at treating the injuries as well. Immediate ice pack keeps the swelling down and speeds the healing. Indoor walking with Leslie Sansone also is helpful because it is something I can do without falling again.

Have you had some setback? Reality sinks in and we have to heal and take the steps needed for recovery. When I fell today a shot of pain went through me and I used some colorful language. Has that happened with you? I am glad there are words that go with pain. Amazing how the ice eases the pain. Writing now I feel pretty good. We can go through extremes rather quickly. Lewis' words encourage me. Keep on walking