[vc_row height=”small” el_class=”dailyBody” css=”.vc_custom_1465516518912{margin-top: -25px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/4″][us_separator height=”10px” size=”custom”][us_image image=”31717″ size=”tnail-1×1″][us_separator height=”20px” size=”custom”][us_sharing providers=”email,facebook,twitter,gplus”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text 0=””]Imagine it’s 1941.  Germany has been bombing England in what became known as “The Blitz” – leaving the English people shaken.  If you walk through London’s neighborhoods you’ll find thousands of homes left as piles of rubble.  Next to them are homes still standing.  The folks living in those whole homes have no idea when a bomb might hit them next.  They have no idea when the wail of a warning siren will interrupt their day, telling them a wave of bombers is on its way.

Those were grave and uncertain times for the people of England, and it took its toll on their emotional and physical stamina.  France had fallen.  England seemed to be the last resistance to Hitler’s intentions.  No one knew when the next bombs would fall, if they would fall in their neighborhood, or worse, if the German armies would invade their island.  They had no guarantees for the future.

That’s history.  Thankfully, we know how it ended – but, imagine it’s 1941 and you’re sitting with some friends in a London flat waiting for any words of encouragement.  It’s a surprising fact to us today, but the vast majority of Englanders would be huddled around their radios trying to tune in the BBC to listen to a young academic.  His weekly talks were only 15 minutes long but they gave hope and inspired a nation to keep on living.  His talks weren’t mindless propaganda or cheer-leading patriotism.  They were religious talks.  The series of talks had the title: “Right and Wrong: A Clue to the Meaning of the Universe.”

Doesn’t sound like the stuff of hopeful encouragement, does it.  But, history shows that hundreds of thousands of British citizens listed the wise words from these 15 minute talks as the reason for their hope to continue in those long months.  Records even show that thousands of English turned to Jesus as a result of that BBC program.  The words of Proverbs 3:5-8 ring true:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; don’t depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.” (NLT)

Oh, by the way, the young academic was C.S. Lewis.  His 15 minute talks were so popular that he ended up giving four series of them –  25 talks in all.  There’s one of those 15 talks that has survived – his final one – entitled “Beyond Personality – the New Men”.  Click here if you’d like to listen to it: C.S. Lewis Talk … and imagine it’s 1941.[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_column_text 0=””]

By Dan Elliot  

[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_row_inner 0=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″]

  • Subscribe to be notified when we publish
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

[/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]