What do I have a GIVENNESS NOW to?

Tempering the wind to the shorn lamb.

“The ‘hiddenness’ of God perhaps presses most painfully on those who are in some way nearest to Him, and therfore God Himself, made man, will of all men be by God most forsaken?

One of the seventeenth century divines says, ‘By pretending to be visible, God could only deceive the world.’

Perhaps He does pretend just a little to simple souls who need a full measure of ‘sensible consolation.’

Not deceiving them, but tempering the wind to the shorn lamb.”  C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm

…where is the wool once worn?

I have a GIVENNESS NOW to tempering the wind to the shorn lamb.

What do I have a GIVENNESS NOW to?

Being elbowed (by joy).

“For all sorts of mistakes are possible when you are dealing with Him.

Long ago, before we were married, H. was haunted all one morning as she went about her work with the obscure sense of God (so to speak) ‘at her elbow,’ demanding her attention.

And of course, not being a perfected saint, she had the feeling that it would be a question, as it usually is, of some unrepented sin or tedious duty.

At last she gave in - I know how one puts it off - and faced Him.

But the message was, ‘I want to give you something’ and instantly she entered into joy.”  C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

…demanding my attention.

I have a GIVENNESS NOW to being elbowed (by joy).

What do I have a GIVENNESS NOW to?

The year of the dragon.

What do I have a GIVENNESS NOW to?

Riddle me this.

“The riddles of God are more satisfying than the solutions of man.”  G.K. Chesterton, Introduction to ‘The Book of Job’

…when is a riddle more satisfying than a solution?

I have a GIVENNESS NOW to riddle me this.

What do I have a GIVENNESS NOW to?

Grow small like Alice.

“It does not make him look up and see marvels; for Alice must grow small if she is to be Alice in Wonderland.”  G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

…look up and see marvels.

I have a GIVENNESS NOW to grow small like Alice.

What do I have a GIVENNESS NOW to?

Russian nesting dolls.

…in between.

I have a GIVENNESS NOW to russian nesting dolls.

What do I have a GIVENNESS NOW to?

Dog (not cat) theology.

“There’s a joke about cats and dogs that conveys their differences perfectly.

A dog says, “You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, you must be God.”

A cat says, “You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, I must be God.”


This difference between cats and dogs is very similar to how Christian theology is being lived out today.

We call it “Dog Theology” and “Cat Theology.”  

Dogs say, “Lord, you love me, you bless me abundantly.  You gave your life for me.  You must be God.”

Whereas cats say, “Lord, you love me, You bless me abundantly.  You gave your life for me, I must be god.” ” Bob Sjorgren and Gerald Robison, Cat and Dog Theology

…man’s best friend.

I have a GIVENNESS NOW to dog (not cat) theology.

What do I have a GIVENNESS NOW to?

To mind what I say is mine.

“Even in the nursery a child can be taught to mean by ‘my teddy bear’ not the old imagined recipient of affection to whom it stands in a special relation (for that is what the Enemy will teach them to mean if we are not careful) but ‘the bear I can pull to pieces if I like.’

And at the other end of the scale, we have taught men to say ‘my God’ in a sense not really different from ‘my boots’, meaning ‘the God on whom I have a claim for my distinguished services and whom I exploit from the pulpit - the God I have done a corner in’.

And all the time the joke is that the word ‘Mine’ in its fully possessive sense cannot be uttered by a human being about anything.

In the long run either Our Father or the Enemy will say ‘Mine’ of each thing that exists, and specially of each man.

They will find out in the end, never fear, to whom their time, their souls, and their bodies really belong - certainly not to them, whatever happens.

At the present the Enemy says ‘Mine’ of everything on the pedantic, legalistic groung that he made it:  Our Father hopes in the end to say ‘Mine’ of all things on the more realistic and dynamic ground of conquest.”  C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

…’my’ boots and ‘my’ bear?

I have a GIVENNESS NOW to mind what I say is mine.

What do I have a GIVENNESS NOW to?

Incarnate skin hunger.

“My friend, Adele, was one of my friends from seminary; and we kept in touch over the last 30 years.  

When we all had young children, one of the things she pointed out was a very subtle but important change she found — and when she said this, I understood it immediately — that her “skin hunger” was being met with the baby and not with her husband.  

That means that the need to hug, to touch, to cuddle is a big motivator for sex; but the woman who is tending to have more bodily contact with a child by holding it, and bathing it, and feeding it, etc., is full up as far as touch needs — and her husband is full down empty and still is very interested in sexual or in any kind of touching with his wife.  

Whereas, the wife is, “been there, had that; I’m full” with the baby.” Kathy Keller, Family Life Today - Making a Marriage Work, January 18, 2012

…why the Word became flesh and lived among us.

I have a GIVENNESS NOW to incarnate skin hunger.

What do I have a GIVENNESS NOW to?

The check engine light.