At the end of our lives we may find ourselves being permitted to enter Heaven. It’s then that we find that this life was a foretaste of the joys and wonders we will experience there. Conversely, we may find we are doomed to hell. In that case the wicked and immoral life that we lived here will be preparatory to that life. We are now living in the shadow of the valley of death, or if we have committed our lives to Jesus Christ, we are living in the shadow of life.
Such is the postulation of C.S. Lewis, in his allegorical work “The Great Divorce” and I believe it has the backing of scripture. Psalm 23 contains the oft-quoted words “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Christians may well feel that they are walking through a dark valley- through personal trials or existence in a world which is increasingly immoral and hostile to Christian values. At the same time we are assured that “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10). A full life in which one has a knowledge of the love of God and relationship through His Son, Jesus Christ is the beginning of Heaven now.
In “The Great Divorce” we find ourselves in a mythical land, populated by angelic beings and strange creatures in which the natural laws of Earth are superseded. The narrator, who has entered this magical kingdom by the rather proletarian means of catching a bus (a precursor to Harry Potter’s Hogwarts’ train?) takes us on a short journey of discovery. Central to the theme is the record of the characters and conversations he narrates along the way. Human nature at it’s best and less than best is exposed for scrutiny- greed, manipulation, regret, but also joy, compassion and humour play their parts. The reader can decide for themselves if they relate to any of the situations described. They may well recognise someone they know within the pages as well.
Lewis takes pains in his introduction to remind us that this is a work of fantasy. We all have our own ideas about what Heaven will be like. The work is not to fixate our thoughts on the afterlife but to provide some consideration about how we live our lives and relate to others now. It espouses moral values, but does so with a deft and light touch reminiscent of “The Screwtape Letters”. The style is easy to read, the chapters are short and absorbing.
I thoroughly recommend this book. Having read it now for the first time, I imagine it to be one which could be dipped into again, as is the case with many of Lewis’ classics.
