Jack's Life example essay topic
460 words
Shadowlands is a love story based on the life of the author, writer, and lecturer Clive Lewis, known as Jack. Jack was an intellectual man who had a tough heart to protect him from what he feared the most, suffering. Jack struggled with the reasons for life sufferings; however, it was Helen Joy Greshem that brought an optimistic eye-opening experience into Jack's life that would help him understand, not only suffering, but his life as well. Lewis often lectured about suffering; during his speaking engagements he often asked, "Why do God allow suffering?" Some of his theories were to help you grow, to drive you out into the world, and to chisel you into perfection. He also believed God allowed you to suffer because He did not want you to be happy. However, he did not live his life based on his theories. Lewis was an intelligent man, kind of intimidating, a know it all Christian that was ignorant to his ways. He did not realize that he was emotionally detached from the outside world; therefore, he led a quiet and confused life. This lifestyle was caused by the pain he had bottled, capped, and kept deep inside due to the lost of his mother as a child. This also caused him to make his life a safety net by arranging it were no one could touch him.
Nonetheless, it took a feisty, self-assured American woman to enter Jack's life and invade his safety arrangements. Helen Joy Greshem was a fan, turned friend, then lover and wife. As a friend she strived to learn more about the man behind the books. It was the self-assured woman that challenged Jack in many ways unlike any other person. Her persistence and straightforward attitude caused him to face the reality of the life he lived. Sadly, it was through her battle with cancer and death that caused Jack's spiritual eyes to open to the concept of suffering.
It was during her rehabilitation period when Joy made Jack face the fact that she was going to die. She made a significant statement to him that "happiness is part suffering". However it would be sometime after her death that he would truly understand. Helen Joy Greshem played a life-changing role in Clive Lewis' life. She was the "Joy" of his life and his life learned lesson. It was through her death that he learned he had chose a safe sheltered life as a young child, which led to an emotional detached adulthood.
But, as an adult he chose suffering, which helped him face the life of which he spoke of on many occasions.
