Friday, March 24, 2006

Orthodoxy and Joy

I finished reading Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton.
I wonder if Tolkein read this book; it seems likely
that he would have.

In The Return of the King Pippin and Galdalf are
talking and Pippin is gazing at the face of Gandalf.
At first all he sees are lines of care and sorrow,
and then, under those he perceives a great joy. He
sees "...a fountain of mirth enough to set a kingdom
laughing, were it to gush forth."

G.K. Chesterton, in the last paragraph of his book
Orthodoxy, says much the same thing of Jesus.
He contends that while Jesus showed us His
sorrow, and he let His anger shoot out, he masked
His joy.

He says, "There was some one thing that was too
great for God to show us when He walked upon
our earth; and I have sometimes fancied that it was
His mirth."

Perhaps, in our present state we could not handle it,
what a hope we have in looking forward to it.

1 comment:

Laurie said...

Thanks for the headsup, Flambo.