Reading the news these days can bring a mounting sense of doom. As one viral meme put it, “I really enjoyed the five minutes between the worldwide pandemic and World War III.”
We thought things couldn’t get worse than the pandemic lockdowns two years ago, but the specter of war in a nuclear age just might top that. I don’t know about you, but I find it hard not to let my imagination run wild with stark images of nuclear disaster and apocalyptic scenarios.
So I was very relieved when I recently stumbled across an essay by C.S. Lewis called “On Living in an Atomic Age.” In it, the great Christian writer and professor explains why we shouldn’t panic, even over the scary “chance of painful and premature death.” Here’s an excerpt:
That was just the bracing wisdom and breath of fresh air I needed to hear. Like Lewis says, it’s silly to give in to fear or panic.
Frightening and powerful evil is nothing new in our world. It’s always been here, but so have the peace and courage of God. Right now, I’m trying to hold on tight to His peace.
Living well and happily, in a “sensible and human” way, is the first order of business. The news may be dire, but here in our homes, we can create oases of peace.
So let’s do something to make today a little happier: Meet a friend for drinks, take the children to the playground, FaceTime with Grandma, tell someone we love them. Let’s banish scary thoughts with good, wholesome work and time spent with those we love.
That’s how we ought to live in any age.
