Mr A left Mrs A for Mrs B who deserted Mr B as well. It's really sad to think about how common this sort of thing actually is. 50% of first marriages end in divorce.. and the rates just go up for the second and third marriages. How could we let this happen? Marriage is supposed to be a life-long commitment, for better or for worse til death so us part. You can't walk away just because your spouse doesn't make you happy 100% of the time and you have a "right to happiness". In this essay, Clare (who Lewis is debating against) believed that Mr A had a legal AND moral right to do what he did. CS Lewis does not believe that people have an unlimited right to happiness. He makes a good example by stating that you can't excuse an alcoholic just because he or she is happy when they're drunk. I really liked what Lewis had to say following the debate that "the absence of happiness excuses divorce and behaviors of the like".
"... It's an offense against honesty. Mr A's action is an offense against good faith (to solemn promises), against gratitude (toward one whom he was deeply indebted) and against common humanity".
Just because you're 'in love' with someone for a time doesn't mean you'll love them forever.. and then what? Do you leave again to find someone else who will make you happy for a time? Lewis says that this is the trait of a coward. If everyone went around doing only the things that made them happy our world would be out of control! We cannot live that way. I believe that our constant need for short-term happiness reveals our sinful nature and internal issues with contentment. I'm not sure about others but being content is something I truly struggle with. When I was younger I couldn't wait to be in college and now that I'm here I sometimes want to be a little girl again... or I want to be a "grown-up" with a family and a good job. Hardly ever do I stop and thank God for the place I am in my life. Am I truly happy? Yeah I'd like to think so. I mean my life isn't perfect and I wrestle with issues just like everyone else but I am faithfully reminded that God has me in His hands and is not about to let go.
I also struggle with contentment! It is not for nothing that God calls us to ‘rejoice always’! Not only that: there is a straightforward condemnation of ‘grumbling’ (Philippians 2:14) and that we should ‘continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling’…
ReplyDeleteGod Bless
Adriana
I said in my post that Lewis was a bit sassy but I really think he showed all in the article because he essentially called anyone who believes that you can just desert someone to find new happiness a coward. Calling someone a coward is very hard to do and shouldn't be done often but I think that Lewis can rightfully say that Mr. A and Mrs. B are both cowards for what they did. I would also add heartless. It makes me think how long they remained together.
ReplyDeleteI like that you are so straight forward and bring the point of contentment to the applicable places in life. I too wish for the past or the future, but never really stop and consider how happy I should be for the here and now. Thank you for giving me some perspective.
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