Longings and Desires

If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.  C.S. Lewis

Photo by Louchiere Matthews (used with permission).

The dictionary defines longing as: "a strong desire especially for something unattainable or distant: for example, to be filled with longing for home." Most of us have certain longings in common...longings such as a desire to love and be loved; a desire for companionship; a desire to live...REALLY live and experience life and not simply exist, a desire to be happy and filled with joy, a desire that our life and the lives of those we love not be snuffed out by death. Where do these longings come from? But there is another part of the definition that doesn't sound so good, that is "something unattainable or distant". Why do our longings for good things so often seem  unattainable? Why is there a general sense of predicament, of something having gone wrong?

C.S. Lewis, a prominent academic scholar and Christian writer, was an avowed atheist until the age of 32. He was influenced by, among others, a fellow scholar and friend named J.R.R. Tolkien (author of Lord of the Rings trilogy) who explained his belief that the longings and desires of man (such as those mentioned above) are implanted by his Creator. Tolkien also explained that the story of the Gospel, which he believed was true, begins and ends in joy. Namely, the Birth and Resurrection of Christ. For those of you not familiar with the story of the Gospel, it tells the "good news" of the Incarnation (Christ as both fully God and fully human). Although there were plenty of hardships in the life of Christ, in the end He defeated one of our greatest enemies...death. IF this is true (which I and countless others believe it is), then it offers profound hope that there can be a happy ending to our story too, and that our deepest longings will one day be fulfilled!

We are now in the Easter season 2011. I challenge you to take 5 minutes and read and consider the first 10 verses in the 28th chapter of Matthew in the Bible, which is the stunning story of the Resurrection of Christ on the third day after his torture and death. See whether this brings a tingle of hope and joy simply at the prospect that it may be true. I cannot even begin to describe the incredible joy I feel when I read this story! Truly, the Gospel is the source of my finding meaning and purpose, not only at the university, but in my life!