Delight Quote by C.S. Lewis
““I thought ... that I was carried in the will of Him I love, but now I see that I walk with it. I thought that the good things He sent drew me into them as the waves lift the islands; but now I see that it is I who plunge into them with my own legs and arms, as when we go swimming. I feel as if I were living in that roofless world of [Earth] where men walk undefended beneath naked heaven. It is a delight with terror in it! One's own self to be walking from one good to another, walking beside Him as Himself may walk, not even holding hands. How has He made me so separate from Himself? How did it enter His mind to conceive such a thing? The world is so much larger than I thought. I thought we went along paths--but it seems there are no paths. The going itself is the path.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis, 1946
The speaker realizes that divine relationship is active participation, not passive receipt, and that life’s journey is self‑directed within a larger, pathless existence.
In simple terms: God’s love requires our active walking, not just being carried.
Key Takeaway
Engage actively with faith and life.
Themes
spirituality
self‑discovery
divine relationship
Mood
awe
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal prayer
- volunteer service
- mindful walking
- creative expression
Key Concepts
theology
existentialism
agency
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you actively co‑create your spiritual path?
- What fears arise when you see life as pathless?
A Different Perspective
Human effort can be limited by misunderstanding divine intent.
