On Lewis and Life-Trac University

On Lewis and Life-Trac University
Written by Weston Knudtson (following his first Life-Trac course Spring 2022)

Do you have a literary mentor? Have you discovered what went on in the life of your favorite author while writing your most-loved book? That’s what Robin Carey encourages. She says, “find your literary mentor and go deep”—meaning, know what the author is about and who or what their writing centers on. Discover your literary mentor’s life story and understand the reason behind each of their writings. These details can enrich each of their words.  

In her class, The Life & Works of C.S. Lewis, Robin Carey shares how Lewis is one of her literary mentors. She invites us into the incredible journey God laid out for him. Robin has spent her life studying the works of C.S. Lewis and consistently finds Jesus at the center. She shares her amazement, not only in Lewis, but more significantly in the work of Jesus in Lewis’s life and writings. Robin has not only explored many of Lewis’ works but also went the extra mile (literally), traveling to England to visit sites where Lewis lived and worked. Robin’s knowledge of Lewis and her delight in Jesus as the Author of life, presents an exciting opportunity for everyone to enjoy learning from her.

Whether you’ve heard of C.S. Lewis or not, you will discover a man who wrestled with many of life’s biggest questions, not so different from yourself. He lived no extraordinary life but was drawn to an extraordinary God who inspired his extraordinary writings. A man never emptied of imagination or limited by what he could see, Clive Staples Lewis created stories of adventure and truth. Many of his fantasy stories that we know and love today were formed in his mind as a boy.

Like us all, Lewis experienced a life full of ups and downs. Peering in from the outside, some may consider Lewis’ life more tragic than most. He was no stranger to the pains and sorrow that come from death. At only ten years old, his loving mother died. She was the first of many losses in his life that led to him questioning the Christian faith (which he was introduced to by his mother) and ultimately abandoning it for some time. But it was clear God was not done with Lewis, even if he seemed to be done with God.

Over the next twenty years, through his time at Oxford (before and after the war) and in the Great War, Lewis formed many close friendships, including friendships with Christians. This always puzzled Lewis. How could he have intelligent discussions in logic and reason with Christians? But he loved their company and their conversation anyway. God was on the move. Lewis encountered much more death in his life, but he also built many strong friendships. Lewis said, “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.’” God used different people at various times in Lewis’ life to draw him in.  

A slow but lasting transformation, Lewis finally committed his life to Christ. This commitment happened while walking with two of his dear friends. He, as he shared in some of his writings, could not ignore the evidence of God’s hand at work in his life through all the good and the bad. It was apparent God placed him with the right people, in the right circumstances, in the right place, at the right time through his entire journey.

During the last two decades of his life, Lewis became well known around the world. He shared his hope in Jesus Christ through talks on the radio, essays, letters, and books. He studied his audience and spoke directly to their hearts. He was a master at saying exactly what he meant to say, never wasting a single word. Lewis died on November 22, 1963, the same day John F. Kennedy was assassinated. But God was not finished with the work He did in Lewis. Before his death, Lewis named Walter Hooper as his literary executor. Hooper is responsible for publishing many well-known C.S. Lewis works, including letters and essays, that would go on to point many to the hope and truth of Jesus.  

What we observe from C.S. Lewis is a life full of much pain but also of great joy. We can see God has a good plan and purpose for every little detail. Ultimately, God desires for us to know Him deeply and share Him with others through our whole life. C.S. Lewis was one who displayed this in his life and works. Robin Carey shares three things she has learned from Lewis’ spiritual journey that are important for us to remember:

1. People often accept truth in stages.
2. Most people prefer an impersonal God.
3. God can and will use anything or anyone to wake us up.

Some of Lewis’ friends said he was the most converted man they ever knew. C.S. Lewis is a great example of someone who thought about his faith deeply and sought to understand what it truly means to be a Christian and then live it.    

What about you? Are you a life-long learner? Does a class on C.S. Lewis or another topic centered on faith pique your interest? Maybe you find it difficult to squeeze in learning a new subject, one that is outside the continued education needed for your job or projects at home. Maybe you’re interested in learning more about theology and apologetics but you don’t know how to start. Maybe you have a desire to better understand today’s culture to reach people but you find it difficult. Or maybe you’re new to Christianity and need help growing in your relationship with God.

Life-Trac University provides you with the opportunity you’ve been looking for, the help you need, and the tools you can use to share, stand for, and understand your faith through all areas of life. Life-Trac offers a range of courses including finances, marriage, parenting, the current culture, theology, apologetics, and more. Each instructor teaches from a biblical worldview and helps students build on a foundation of truth with Jesus. Are you ready? Please come take your seats.

Class is in session.