Hope this Christmas (Advent at Home)

 As some of you may or may not know, every year since I have been at my school (all 14 years!), I have composed an original song for the children to sing at the church for our Christmas performance.  It's one of my favourite things I do in the year and to hear our children singing my own song always makes me very proud. As we teach the children, it is important that you learn to write for a specific audience, be that writing instructions for a recipe, a letter to your local MP, a fairy tale story for Reception children, a fanfare for a king and in this case, a Christmas song for a choir or school and I do this as an exercise to show that the learning never stops, nor does the creative process, no matter how old you are and that being a teacher is not all we are- we have skills, interests and hobbies that we do beyond the classroom.  As well as, of course, showing the children I care about them by writing something FOR THEM specifically.  

  Over the years, pretty much every aspect of the Christmas story and our performance has had a song written for it- Donkeys, Mary receiving the message, the baby sleeping, Caesar Augustus and his census, the Kings, the (swinging) shepherds, the innkeepers, the angels, the introduction part, a party song at the end, the message of Love being the best gift etc.

This year, I wanted to write a song of Hope, not aimed at telling an aspect of the Christmas story but to remind people in the year of 2020: you and all of our children and parents to have hope, stay positive, be kind, trust and never give up, no matter how hard things have been or are getting.  It was going to be a surprise that in the last week, I was going to record each class singing a section of it and then I was going to stitch it together and send it to the parents on the last day.

 

BUT, because we were having to stick to bubbles, this wasn't going to be possible so I adapted and was going to just  record it with choir this week (we learnt it last week on Tuesday but I wanted all the quarantining children to be part of the recording) .  Of course, my enforced isolation has put paid to that  and I've been unable to do that. Best laid plans and all that.

However, I still wanted to send the message of hope to all of you so I recorded myself singing and playing it.  No comments, positive or negative on the singing please, it's a little cringy (& a bit strangled cat!)  as it is intended to be sung by a large group of children for maximum impact, not by a slightly embarrassed teacher, trying to play the piano part correctly simultaneously, hoping her neighbours don't hear her!

The message is what is important- there will always be light if you keep it alive in your heart with hope.

Hope this Christmas

It’s been a hard year and we’ve found things changing too much.

It’s hard to see when the hardships and restrictions can all cease.

Times are strange and there’s sadness so

We must stay strong, keep our faith and let’s have

Hope this Christmas,         Hope this Christmas,

Hope this Christmas,         Hope this Christmas,

Stay safe this Christmas      Stay safe this Christmas

Stay safe this Christmas      Stay safe this Christmas

Don’t give up now, Trust  and pray and keep on striving, keep the season’s Joy!

It’s been oh so hard, when we we’re lost and oh so lonely,

But we can find joy, if we try to seek it, try to let it shine,

Yes there’s fear but there’s courage, strength so

We must be kind, show our love and always:

Hope this Christmas,         Hope this Christmas,

Hope this Christmas,         Hope this Christmas,

Stay safe this Christmas      Stay safe this Christmas

Stay safe this Christmas      Stay safe this Christmas

Don’t give up now, Trust  and pray and keep on striving, keep the season’s Joy!

Keep the hope, keep the joy, don’t give up, share your love, you’ve got to keep that

Hope this Christmas,         Hope this Christmas,

Hope this Christmas,         Hope this Christmas,

Stay safe this Christmas      Stay safe this Christmas

Stay safe this Christmas      Stay safe this Christmas

Don’t give up now, Trust  and pray and keep on striving, keep the season’s Joy!

 

 This is part of my 'Advent at Home' post with Ang. 

Prayers

Liz Slater manages to articulate her prayers so beautifully and clearly and says everything in such a way that I feel. I wanted to share them with you here, for things to think or pray about.  

Let us pray.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, you promised through your son Jesus Christ to hear us when we pray in faith. Thank you Father.

So we come to you now in faith with our requests. 

Father God,  we lift up our church, your people, to you. We pray for the clergy of all churches. bring all clergy towards you, especially those taking up new posts.. We pray your blessing on those who lead and organise services in church and those who enable services and coffee stop meetings online and those who have other responsibilities such as wardening or working in the offices during these difficult times. Give them strength and wisdom. Bless each of us, whoever we are, whether at home  watching or worshipping with others in church. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for our world. Help us to  understand learn from discoveries that are being made about links between the environment and the pandemic.  For example, where our over exploitation of the natural world has led to eco-systems being unbalanced and viruses spreading beyond their usual hosts. Where a reduction in air pollution during lock down has seen an increase in insect life. Help us to take this seriously so it does not get forgotten during the urgency seriousness of other immediate decisions needing to be made. Help us not to forget. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for our national leaders. Give them wisdom as difficult decisions need to be made. Help them to communicate with honesty and transparency.  Help them to work together with all interested parties for the common good of the four nations in the UK. We continue to pray for those who have continued to undergo anxiety about their exam results. Again,w e ask for wisdom as Sixth forms, Further Education colleges and universities struggle to honour promises of places.  Also for firms offering apprenticeships who may not themselves be sure of their own future.  Be with those those who,  in spite of everything, have missed expected places. Help those, whose remit it is, to be imaginative and creative, in their support.

We pray for the safe return to school for pupils, teaching and non-teaching staff.  Strengthen those who have responsibility for ensuring  safety on site, and trying to resolve problems like crowded lunchtimes and break times. We think of bus drivers coping with travel to school and we think of families concerned about transmission in school between adults in school and transmission from pupils into the home.  We think of parents who do not want to send their children back to school. Father there are so many anxieties and so much  stress. Father, we place all of that in your hands. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Father, in this year of bewildering disruption, disease and dismay, help us to look to you and not be overwhelmed because you are our strength, our shield, our rock.

We pray for the nations of the world. Help leaders as they cope with an increase in Covid cases again.

Help nations to work together more and to cooperate over prevention, treatment and vaccines. 

We pray for those whose future employment  and income is uncertain, those who must quarantine but who are short of income, those who will find it difficult to pay rent, landlords, whose main income is from renting accommodation and and those who rely increasingly on food banks

We continue to pray for Lebanon  for the people of Beirut, as they cope with food and power shortages as well as COVID19.

We pray for the people of Belarus as the outcome of the recent election are contested.

We pray for the rigours of North west China as people are being moved to re-education camps.

We pray for the people of Hong Kong as they seek to retain their freedoms.

For Californians as they confront hundreds of fire outbreaks.

And the preparation for fair and democratic elections in the USA

Strengthen Christians in all these situations so that they can support others. Keep us faithful in praying for then. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for all those who are sad because of family members who have died.  We pray for those who are not well....Comfort and strengthen all those we have give them your healing and your peace.  Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

And for ourselves- Lord, as we think of how you met and called your first disciples,we thank you that you meet us wherever we are and whoever we are. Help us to remember that you are the  God who notices, however ordinary or insignificant we feel. The God who meets us in our everyday lives at home, at school, at work.  Thank you that when we accept your unfailing love and amazing Grace, you become God with us, who walks with us throughout our every day lives of highs and lows, understanding everything that we feel. 

So we ask, for ourselves, that you will teach us to walk in the light of your presence,  to love with your heart of compassion, to trust in the word of your promise.  So that all of our being,  all our whole being praises you and we are able to proclaim with heartfelt joy, that HALLELUJAH!  OUR GOD reigns.

Merciful father, accept our prayers for the sake of your son, our saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

A pause for Advent #2 Charlie Brown's Christmas- A children's story

Last Sunday, a week ago, I went to play my flute for the Advent Carol service at my old church.  Margaret Fowler, the minister there, gave a beautiful talk as part of the theme of the carol service: Once upon a time...  She has kindly let me share her ideas and words.

She began by saying that all good fairy tales begin with that familiar phrase and have done since 1400 and end with, 'They all lived happily ever after.'   Surely that is what all of us want in life- no one wants to hear that things end badly.

Charles Schulz was the creator, in the 1950's, of cartoons about Charlie Brown and his friends- they appeared in newspapers and were a huge success over the following decade.  The success was so much so that Schulz was asked by that famous old company, Coca Cola, if he would entertain the possibillity of producing a full length cartoon as a Christmas show- it would be sponsored by the company.

Schlulz agreed to this but said he wished to centre the plot around producing a Christmas play where Charlie wanted to tell the story.  He was insistent on the fact that the film had to reflect the TRUE meaning of Christmas.  Coca Cola agreed to this.

The story begins with Charlie Brown and the blanket-carrying-friend Linus talking- Charlie feels unhappy despite it being Christmas.  All the friends he tell this too don't seem to care and just share their glee about the exciting THINGS of Christmas they would be having and doing- food, decorations and presents rather than offering him support.

Charlie is given the role of Director for a Christmas play which all the aforementioned friends are in but they bicker and seem to miss the point of it all playing Christmas that is not really anything to do with Christmas- Fur Elise for the piano player for example.

Charlie still isn't happy and he and little Linus set off in search of a tree to use in the play thinking this will help.  All the others demand a fancy dress with all the best over-the-top decorations.  Amidst the bright pink fake and fluffy trees, Charlie finds and falls in love with a diminutive pine tree and takes it back in excitement.

Charlie's friends are scornful of its simplicity and the humble nature of the tree and mock him for messing up again- they desert him.  Linus alone remains.  Charlie, in despair asks plaintively, "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?"

Linus simply replies, "Sure, Charlie Brown. I can tell you what Christmas is all about."

He stands there in the spotlight and begins:

 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields keeping watch over their flocks by night And lo,the angel of the lord came upon them and the glory of the lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, “Fear Not” for behold I bring you tidings of great joy  which shall be to all people for unto you has been born this day,  in the City of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God saying, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth Peace and goodwill towards all men."

He relinquishes that much loved security blanket from the words, "Fear not,"  And he says to Charlie Brown- "that is what Christmas is all about."

It is a beautiful, humble moment.

Despite Coca Cola's acquiescence to Schulz's request, just before the screening of the cartoon for the first time in December 1965, the executives of the production company, who had come to watch it, were quietly aghast.  "You can't quote from the Bible.  It will be the end of Charlie Brown." It was too late to adapt though.  It screened as per his wishes and despite the fears, it was a considerable success, much beloved by all and it won many acolades and awards.  And this humble, central moment of scripture is acclaimed as to why the film was such a success- this tiny, usually nervous boy sharing with confidence, the true Christmas story.

Right at the end of the cartoon, we see Linus, who reclaimed his blanket after the speech gives up his blanket to wrap around that humble, mocked tree with all the other children who give decorations to adorn the little tree.

And the point she was making with her sermon was that sometimes, we are like Linus- we hold desperately onto things and do not want to let them go- this could be material possessions, wanting to be the best, past anger, resentment and even our belief that this couldn't possibly all be true- how could Jesus possibly have been real and been who he said he was- a Saviour.  But he came to help us let go f all these.  The Christmas story isn't just a fairy tale- it is a true story with hope, power and joy- that the Son of God came to earth and will be with us, should we choose to accept him, and despite the difficulty and despair of this life, he will be with us always. And our happy ending is that we will live in Heaven with Jesus forever.

My soul was uplifted by this wonderful sermon and I wanted to share it with you.  I've included the full cartoon here from Youtube.  If you don't have time to hear it all,  listen from 20:06 and hear the message from Linus.

With thanks to Margaret for her wonderful sermon and thanks for letting me share it.

This is my Pause for Advent with Ang Almond and co.

Remembering a Mad Cat Lady

Today was the funeral of that dear family friend that I've talked of periodically on here over the last few years.  She was the most wonderful, eccentric, eclectic person I knew.

It is hard to believe that she is no longer with us on this mortal Earth.  I have never known life without her and she will be sorely missed.

Today, at the funeral, when Kate, the vicar, talked of how she touched the lives around her, it struck me more than with any other person I have known, how true this was. How she did so much for people and made their life a better place.  Up to her final year, she was involved in the choir and flowers for the church, taught singing and dancing at a dance school, acted in plays, did props for plays, made costumes and wedding dresses, knitted, crocheted and made jams and preserves for the church fairs, read books galore, was a worker for the local voluntary care unit.

I think back upon my childhood memories of her and I see Norma, that was her name, in the choir vestry during Friday evening choir practice. In mind, she is wearing her pigskin coat which was a sort of pale green colour. I used to snuggle up to her arm and delight in the soft feel of her coat.  I remember my Mum and her singing the tenor and bass solos for Stainer's choral work, The Crucifixion, when there weren't always men willing to sing those parts and at times, cheekily informing Auntie Norma that she was singing flat whilst my own Mummy was singing sharp.

Christmases held an annual event that was an crucial element to every Christmas. A week or so before Christmas, Norma would always come round to us for our own Christmas together.  Mum would prepare a Turkey Christmas dinner or perhaps Roast beef with all the trimmings, crackers included, and then we would share our Christmas presents to each other.  Some years, we would go to Norma's house.   I am not a fan of Christmas pudding and my Mum used to buy me profiteroles. But the first year we went to Norma's house for our Christmas get-together, she said she would make me dessert.  When it came to dessert, out she came with this individual apple pie for me. Out of minute, perfect-sized pastry letters, she had written my name Kerenza in concentric circles. My name in pastry 15 times.  It was so beautiful and so thoughtful, I was touched. That she'd made that effort for me.

Another thoughtful thing she did was inviting me to help her make her cats' Christmas dinner on Christmas eve.  I can't remember how old I was, but I don't know if she was looking after me to give Mum a break or that my sister was doing something or that she was just being nice but she invited m to come round.  We cooked turkey mince and then I had to use her old fashioned green-metal mincer to mince breadcrumbs to put in it.  Spaghetti had to be broken into tiny pieces and added in.  Gravy included and then this feast was to feed her cats on Christmas day.  She was so thoughtful. Anyone else might have given them a tin of Sheba but she did this specially.  After this, we made dinner for us.  Fish fingers, baked beans and then mashed potato which we mashed ourselves- this was my first experience of that. I loved that time and relished going back another year to do the same.

Every piano exam I ever took was preceded by hours of practice at her house since she had a piano and we only had a keyboard. I always recall her telling me how when she did her Grade 8 piano, she was asked to play a C minor scale by the examiner who was then amazed how she had managed to play the melodic scale in her left hand and the harmonic scale in her right hand simultaneously and she didn't notice she'd done it!

So many happy occasions going round to play with her cats.  Playing her old piano and marvelling that she didn't have a TV, only a little old black and white model.  Helping her clean and tidy when Mum's Icelandic penpals were coming to stay at Norma's because we had no room.

Asking her to do the third reading at my wedding. Her and the two Mums. It was very fitting.

The midnight Dalek dress.

The time I asked her to help teach me to use her sewing machine and making my Mum a beautiful denim wrap around skirt.  The hours she spent with me patiently not wringing my neck as I got to grips with the overlocker.  Remembering when she helped me make my Dalek dress and how patient she was when I was still there at midnight, trying to unpick the poppers I'd sewn on back to front.

I own things that will remain with me always that she made- my crochet blanket, my Doctor Who scarf, my red duffle cardigan, my Doctor Who Romana-inspired black concert dress.

My 10 foot scarf!

When we left our first church and went to another one, Norma came with us and sang in that choir.

What most people remember about her was just how funny she was. Oh the stories she would tell from her school days of swimming to the delights of her stories from her work at the BBC in the Sound Archives department, being at her 'Lady from the BBC talks', tales of what her cats did including the famous Lennie the Loathsome who I loved so much, the cat who ate all the chocolate off the Malteasers, Emma who used to press mice under the carpet.

Her love of books. She truly was a voracious reader who might read 40 books a month or more. She was the one who introduced me to Terry Pratchett.  I remember phoning her sometime last November and her telling me about her sadness of reading his final book, Shepherd's Crown. I remember it vividly as I was walking through the beautiful park near my old home.  Her telling me about interesting books and my marvelling at her knowledge.

I regret that in the last few years, when I had moved away, I did not see her so much. I regret that much but I am so grateful that her diagnosis in March of having 2 weeks to live extended to October and I was able to see her.   She was someone who truly lived life and enjoyed it.

I truly loved this lady and as I said goodbye to her for the last time two Thursdays ago, late at night as she lay unconscious, close to death, I muttered, I love you to her, feeling embarrassed as I said it front of the other three visitors but wanting to tell her I loved her and I was so grateful for her presence in my life, for always being there.  Wishing above all, that I had asked for 5 minutes with her to say it, the way I did with my Grandfather. Curse my inability to speak about my feelings in front of others.

Don't be sad I'm gone, be glad I lived. Oh how true that is. I will be sad that I cannot laugh and ask her stories. I wish I could have asked her to tell me her stories in the last few months so I could laugh over them. However, she will always remain a part of my heart and I mean that most truly.  When I heard the readings today, how true and fitting they were.
Isaiah 40, 28, read so beautifully by my Mum today, stated:

Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

I take comfort in this. Truly, Norma gained her wings.

Norma, thank you for being in my life. I am so glad you are with God, for I am certain and glad that you are in his presence.

xxx

Live life to the full! (and 10 thanks)



Sunset in Florence.  I didn't manage to complete the Scavenger hunt in time for Sophie's Scavenger hunt, but thought I'd share this one.

 Did you read the Metro today.  Apparently there was an article about children who live in a remote area who, in order to get to school, have to climb a tight-rope walk style rope bridge in order to reach their school.  One false move and they will fall to their peril.  Yet they face the challenge daily, not even batting an eyelid, with alacrity even. It is their life and they accept the challenge and continue to strive to get where they need to.  They want to live their life to the full.

How can I live my life to the full?  This doesn't mean busying myself with all sorts of busyness and activities, but looking for what is the right way to live my life.  For me, it is important, that as a Christian, I try to live life, accepting that it IS hard, and it IS tiring and difficult and messy, and yet facing it, trying to be loving, trying to show the love that my Lord has for me and living the way he wants me to live my life.  I am not doing a very good job of that.  Yet, I will not give up, I know that what it is that God wants and I know that if I did things his way, I'd probably be living it life to the full and I want some of that action!  For when I put my mind looking at it in God's way, I should read his word and see it really is living life to the full- I attain a mere 10th of what I could be and what I do live is   Now that, if you are not a Christian, you may think big-deal.  That's fine.  But when I actually look at how God wants me to live my life in the Bible, when I read it, think on the words within, it really is simple.  It is different from the way the world looks at how to live our life and what it tells us should be the way to live our life.  I just wanted to put my stream of consciousness here- I felt because I've said it here, I think about it- it's weird, sharing it with other people makes me think about it more!  I just wanted to put this out there, I felt compelled to write it, does it make any sense or am I waffling?

This leads nicely onto one of my favourite things, finding things I am thankful for:

1.  My CBC- I am smiling and remembering Florence! (Not the Canadian version of the BBC Emily ;-)  )
2.  The joy of knowing that though you made have done something 6 times before, and felt it was hard work, you wondered why you were doing it- the 7th and 8th times can be brilliant!  Case in point- teaching recorder to year 3 for a year:  This is the 4th time I've done it and it's fab this year- it really is.  Same with orchestra- sooo much better!
3.  The beauty of messages- a few words from someone who knows you, in a text, can make your heart soar and be so thankful! 
4.  I am thankful for last night's hot water bottle.  Not only did it keep my feet warm, bbut byy leaking and leaving me with a damp puddle under my feet, it also woke me up when my alarm clock failed!
5. For my little sister managing to get a Christmas job- she's very happy!
6. For the beauty of enthusiasm!  You'd think teaching 9 year olds about Medieval plainchant in Latin, it might turn them off a bit- not a bit of it- I distinctly heard "Yesssssssssss!" from some of the boys in choir when they heard we were singing a song in Latin (Gaudete FYI) after we'd listened to some in our prior music lesson!
7. For the joy that your own joy can bring to other people when you share it!
8. For my church friends- I cannot say how much I love them dearly! All ages, it matters not!
9.  For YOU- it's like coming home to an unexpected parcel finding your kind comments!
10.  For the inventor of the Duvet. Mr Duvet, whereever you are, thank you!

What are you thankful for?

The polka-dot polka!

 Yay, what is the result of camera-breakage and lossage?  The opportunity to do something with those photos I have not been motivated to do anything with!
I regard any journey to a charity-shop, resulting in polka dot itemage as a success! Why oh why this should be the case, I have no idea!?  When does one acquire one's own particular liking/obsession/fixation with a certain style/pattern?  Is this nature or nurture?  Is it particular exposure to a particular trend? Does it stem from childhood memories?
When did Char first discover her penchant for cute animal prints?
When did Laura discover that floral prints were something she adored?
When did Lauren discover Pussybow blouses were something she adored?
When did Sophie discover that mustard was something she sought?
When did Lucy discover brooches were her thing?
When did Vix discover that miserable children were something she longed to cover walls in?

I could go on...
I always wonder WHY we start to like certain things more than others and gravitate towards them?  Any thoughts?!

 This Primark polka-dot dress, was a happy charity-shop find!  I like it lots- who cares I paid half as much in a charity-shop as I might pay in Primark, I missed it first time round, so I got it now!

 I have a stinking cold which is moving to my chest and feel pretty rough but it's ok, I can cope! My school concert went brilliantly last night, despite the children and I not ending Gary Barlow's Sing in the same place :-) (We pretended!), despite 2 violins not turning up and my standing with a child playing a beginner-violin in order for her not to have to play on her own!  It felt a real Ta-Dah Monday!  One of the parents said she'd never heard anything like it in a primary school (she's a musician) and I was very proud of them- all of them, orchestra, choir,recorders, drummers, soloists.  

I am linking up to Lakota's Ta Dah Tuesday with my children's work above!  Everyone who saw the paper-beaded necklaces at Exhibition evening said how fabulous they think they were and what a nice idea it was and do you know what, I think I had a good idea to get them to do this- it's something they can go home and do in the holidays for little or no money with old magazines! Is your child bored?  Get them to make paperbeads, you can make nice cheap jewellery and they could get to work making your Christmas presents for relatives now! Check out this Youtube video of how to make them and check out all these beautiful paperbeads in the Google images gallery. I use a barbeque skewer but for big beads, you could easily wrap around a pencil!

Surprised by Joy!

Are you surprised by joy?  Do you take great delight in those moments of realising that you are happy?  A friend of mine was recently talking about a little 2 year old acquaintance of hers and her exuberant delight in being swung up and down and reading a book with her.  She talked about the wonderful way in which children can be utterly delighted by something and surprised by it.  I love that feeling, being aware that I am full of joy and enjoying that sense of awareness.

In the Bible it says something of the lines of "Be like a child," and I love this.  We're always in so much of a hurry to grow up but actually revelling in our child-like existence or our innocence is a blessing.  I've always loved being the one who was not in a hurry to grow up out of my friends as a teen.  CBC says to me sometimes that I must think I'm about 12 or something.  Perhaps?  But I'm happy with that.  I love being surprised by Joy.  I love the unexpected feeling of delight.  Like we experienced on Monday when a gloomy day turned into the most gorgeous sun-drenched surprise!
And even small things!  I was delighted by the lovely comments left by 17 of you on Monday!  It was totally unexpected and I loved realising that feeling of excitement!

Are you ever surprised by joy?


Anyway, what prompted this thought was my completion of book number 19 of 2012.  C.S. Lewis's autobiographical account.  The man behind the Narnia books, The Screwtape letters, Voyage to Venus, The four loves, The problem of pain and Mere Christianity.  In this delightful account, he shares details of his life and how he came to turn from being an atheist to being a Christian believer.  It is interesting to chart how we went from an Irish background, being the son of the daughter of a priest but not really having much faith.  The school years through various establishments, show how he formed the wrong image of God but by trying to serve him in a laborious fashion through big-long laboured prayers, came to regard it subconsciouslt as a pest, a bore and something best.  An obsession with the occult and new age ideas from a Matron, seeing a fallen priest, seeing the horrors of a boys Public school, a tutor who was fervently unbelieving, his own lack of understanding of the nature of joy, seeing other unbelievers and the eternal turned him into a fervent anti-Christian.  The account gives the reader in addition, ideas as to where some of the imagination and imagery for his epic Narnia tale came from (though via a long alteration)- his stories and games of 'The animal kingdom and India' with his brother (where animals talked), a love of the sagas of Scandinavia, Wagner.  How his only proper friendship began when he was already well into his teens- a friend Arthur (perhaps the hero of Perelandra was named after him?) who taught him the love of the homely.   The accounts of his time at Oxford, as a classical scholar and how eventually,

In the Trinity Term of  1929, I gave in and admitted that God was God... perhaps the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England.

Throughout the book, a love of poetry is evident, through the quotes from a variety of international sources provide an excellent introduction and commentary to his thoughts and influences.   He is clever, witty, intelligent, honest and makes no bones about anything but is clear and succinct and totally worth the effort of reading.  Perhaps that's why all his other books are brilliant, particularly The Problem of pain or The screwtape letters.
Warning- I tend to find with C.S. Lewis, you need to pretty much keeping reading a little, consistently, daily.  If you leave the book for a week or two you will lose the train of thought.  That said, this one was fine.
Here it is:
19. C.S. Lewis Surprised by joy.

 
Have you read it?  Have you read any of his other books?

The T-shirt says it all...

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were an offering far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Isaac Watts 1707