Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:

• Psalm 37:4-5

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

• Matthew 6:33

“All joy (as distinct from mere pleasure, still more amusement) emphasizes our pilgrim status; always reminds, beckons, awakens desire.  Our best havings are wantings.”

• C.S. Lewis, Letters of C.S. Lewis (5 November 1959)

Sehnsucht is German for an intense yearning, longing, or craving.  It is more specific in craving than fernweh, which is basically the opposite of homesickness (far away sickness?).  In other words, a longing to be out there, but not specifically out “where.”  When I wrote about Sehnsucht before, I said there is a lot in the writings of C.S. Lewis where he long for Joy.  We might even get around to somethings from Surprised by Joy, the book containing his personal testimony.

But here, he is writing someone about that longing.  And having the longing of Godly things is the “wanting” that C.S. Lewis is conveying as the best thing to have.

I have noticed that it keeps me out of trouble.  I tend to stray, in my thinking, when I think of worldly things instead of Heavenly things.

But focusing on Jesus and desiring more of Him helps in this world in other ways.  God meets our needs, but when our desires align more with what God wants in our lives, our successes in this world start to blossom more.  But remember the thorn in Paul’s flesh.  We may not achieve undreamed of success.  Success in this world knits us with this world.  But when more success equals furthering God’s kingdom and glorifying God, then that type of worldly success is worth discussing.

But what of interpersonal relationships?  Those can become deeper and more meaningful.  With God as the focus, relationships become richer.  Some relationships may need to be severed due to the insistence of others.  But that is their loss.  When you are around someone that eats, breathes, and dreams God and His kingdom, the atmosphere is electric, and you want even more.

As C.S. Lewis said, “Our best havings are wantings.”

I thought about adding this song, then rejected it, but upon reviewing and editing, the song cries out.  Here are The Blackwood Brothers singing More about Jesus.

May we all desire more, more of Jesus.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.