There are many concepts addressed in C. S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce that are extremely insightful, if not equally controversial. (Read the flannelgraph review here).

I admit to being only an amateur musician, focusing mostly on writing songs for use in congregational worship, but I find Lewis’ insight into the motivations of the ‘Christian’ artist deeply challenging.

“It was all a snare. Ink and catgut and paint were necessary down there [on earth], but they are also dangerous stimulants. Every poet and musician, but for Grace, is drawn away from love of the thing he tells, to love of the telling till, down in Deep Hell, they cannot be interested in God at all but only in what they say about Him. For it doesn’t stop… you know. They sink lower – become interested in their own personalities and then in nothing but their own reputations.”

I must ask myself… am I guilty of the same?   Being drawn away from loving the One I tell about, by the love of the telling?