Windows

"Two Windows," painted by Zeny Cieslikowski.

"There is an extraordinary charm in other people's domesticity's." C.S.Lewis.

I ran across a blog of C.S. Lewis quotes. C.S. Lewis, a thinker and thankfully, a writer. His writings, a part of our lives too, here in Big Lake, Alaska. As I read some of "The Window in the Garden Wall" "The Magic of Suburbia," I began to think the following thoughts.

"Every lighted house, seen from the road, is magical: every pram or lawn-mower in someone else's garden: all smells or stirs of cookery from the windows of alien kitchens." C.S.Lewis.

I remember standing in village grass taller than myself, staring at other people's open windows, hearing bits and pieces of conversations. Sometimes the scent of Saturday's Pine Sol could be smelled or the sizzle of frying fish on a hot summer stove could be heard. Loud drunken men or women could be heard and watched as they would walk out a door and stagger down the road. On Sunday's they'd wear their best clothes, shoes and coats and hurry proudly off to church - the bell was ringing in the distance and it was time for church.

Ritualistic obligations. Chores. Cooking. Even worship of God can become a ritual. Something that we should do because ---this is what we are. The awful sin of pride again, coming right around the back side of us and slapping us in the face when we do things with such reasoning - because, this is what we do, this is who we are. Our actions (or inaction) are spiritual windows into the condition of our souls.

I picked up a small booklet "Winning Spiritual Warfare" last evening written by Freedom in Christ Ministries, Neil T. Anderson. I have read his book "The Bondage Breaker" which this booklet takes it's content from.

An illustration Neil uses:

An empty street lined with two-story row houses.
There is nothing in the street, it is clear of any obstructions.
I am at one end of the street.
Jesus Christ is at the other end.
It is my decision to walk towards maturity in Christ, down this long, empty street.

"But since this world is still under the dominion of Satan, the row houses on either side of you are inhabited by beings who are committed to keeping you from reaching your goal. They have no power or authority to block your path or even slow your step, so they hang out of the windows and call to you, hoping to turn your attention away from your goal and disrupt your progress." Neil T. Anderson.

What a vivid picture to one that spent time standing and staring at - windows. I must look up ahead, to the prize at the end of the street!

I visited Millie yesterday, she had her eye on me. Two of her daughters and their families are coming to Alaska and will be visiting with her and enjoying the company of the rest of the family. I know that this will be good for Millie.