A few years ago, I picked up C. S. Lewis’ Letters to an American Lady. Lewis apparently wrote letters to a southern aristocrat who was living with financial challenges and health issues. At the time, Lewis was 51, author of more than 20 books, and had been a Christian 20 years.
Lewis wrote over 100 letters to this anonymous lady. As far as I know, he never met her.
Aug 1, 1953 –
How little people know who think that holiness is dull. When one meets the real thing (and perhaps, like you, I have met it only once) it is irresistible. If even 10% of the world’s population had it, would not the whole world be converted and happy before a year’s end?
Aug 10, 1953 –
I’m a panicky person about money myself (which is a most shameful confession and a thing dead against Our Lord’s words) and poverty frightens me more than anything else except large spiders and the tops of cliffs: one is sometimes even tempted to say that if God wanted us to live like the lilies of the field He might have given us an organism more like theirs! But of course He is right. And when you meet anyone who does live like the lilies, one sees that He is.
I recommend the book – and it is online for free.
Note – After he died, it was discovered that Lewis gave away more than two thirds of his income.
