The Great Divorce: C.S. Lewis on God’s Truth or Your Truth St. Philip's Church: Charleston, SC

Chapter 13 concludes with a dialog on the power of Joy and whether it can be held captive by pity or manipulation, followed by a glimpse of the Sun rising to the refrain of “Sleepers Awake!”, referencing the Second Coming. The book finishes with Lewis’s being reminded that he has been in a dream and waking up at the table in his office.

As we finish Chapter 12 and begin Chapter 13, we see the Great Lady, Sarah Smith of Golders Green, trying to help the disintegrating person who was formerly her husband to put to death those parts of his identity that were tearing him apart and keeping him from Heaven. It is a sad commentary on the huge price that hypocrisy and masks exact from us when we try to pretend to be something that we are not.

As we begin Chapter 12, Lewis beholds a magnificent procession radiating with light in honor of a great personage who is at its center. He is surprised to learn who is being honored in the procession, and enters into a deep discussion about the difference between earthly fame and heavenly glory.

As we finish up Chapter 11, the new Bright Spirit rides the magnificent stallion up into the high country, as the land itself breaks forth into Joy. Lewis and MacDonald talk about the necessity of putting to death whatever is earthly so that the more glorious Resurrection life may take root and flourish.

As we continue our journey in Chapter 11, we meet the Ghost with the lizard on his shoulder, whose presence is preventing the Ghost from moving into Heaven. The Bright Spirit who meets him makes clear that the lizard must be killed if the Ghost is to enter the heavenly country. As always, Lewis's penetrating insights cut through our cultural veneer and show us that sin is not just unpleasant but deadly.

The Ghost of a domineering mother, who has lost her son to an early death and has enshrined his memory as an idol, berates the Bright Spirit in this chapter about why she cannot see her son. The Spirit tries to explain that her own selfishness is the problem, but she is blinded by her possessive need. George MacDonald and Lewis engage in a discussion of how earthly affection must be transformed into Christ-like love in order to blossom in Heaven.