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Word about Praise
varied writings of C. S. Lewis, 1898-1963. This is the year we celebrate the centenary of his birth. A WORD ABOUT PRAISE The most obvious fact about praise whether of God or anything strangely escaped me. I thought of it in terms of compliment, approval, or the giving of honour. I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise unless (sometimes even if) shyness or the fear of boring others is deliberately brought in to check it. The world rings with praise lovers praising [each other], readers their favourite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favorite game praise of weather, wines, dishes, actors, motors, horses, colleges, countries, historical personages, children, flowers, mountains, rare stamps, rare beetles, even sometimes politicians or scholars. I had not noticed how the humblest, and at the same time most balanced and capacious, minds praise most, while the cranks, misfits and malcontents praise least. . . . Except where intolerably adverse circumstances interfere, praise almost seems to be inner health made audible. . . . . I had not noticed either that just as men spontaneously praise whatever they value, so they spontaneously urge us to join them in praising it: "Isn't she lovely? Wasn't it glorious? Don't you think that magnificent?" The Psalmists in telling everyone to praise God are doing what all men do when they speak of what they care about. C. S. Lewis in REFLECTIONS ON THE PSALMS, Harcourt Brace, 1964, as quoted in SPACE FOR GOD: THE STUDY AND PRACTICE OF PRAYER AND SPIRITUALITY by Don Postma, CRC Publications, 1983 [Does your personal praise of God adequately reflect how much he means to you? Is your praise of him equal to your praise of the many comforts and delights he has offered? If you were to write a personal psalm of praise, what would it be like?] Have a great day, Chip Stam Pastor or Worship and Music Chapel Hill Bible Church Chapel Hill, North Carolina |