Meditations in a Toolshed

Today for class we discussed the piece "Meditations in a Toolshed" by C.S. Lewis. In this particular writing, Lewis deals with how we view everything in this world. By using the simple example of a light beam in his toolshed, Lewis illustrates that there are two different ways or perspectives when viewing something. You can either look “at” the beam or “along” the beam. The difference is viewing something from the outside, (with a rational, sometimes scientific, explanation) and being on the inside (having the experience yourself, ie emotions, and etc…). Both perspectives create for a viewer two different pictures of the same element, making one question which actually is the correct perspective. The answer, Lewis argues, is both. Although both angles create two totally different pictures, neither picture is complete unless you put them together. In other words, using both perspectives helps you see that which is viewed in its entirety. Therefore, it is important to look both “at” and “along” everything to truly understand what you are seeing.

One interesting point brought out in class about these perspectives was that no matter how you are looking at the “light beam” one thing always remains consistent. The object of your scrutiny will always be there. No matter how you look at the light beam, the sun that creates it will always be there. Your views cannot change what is constant. I also was intrigued when it was briefly mentioned that “time changes perspective.” This can be seen in the life of any individual. As one gets older, his perspective on certain events changes dramatically from when he/she was a child. If you were anything like me as a child you can understand this using the example of discipline. When I was in the middle of being disciplined, I could not understand the reason for it and it made me angry. I was however, only looking from the inside of discipline. Once I was outside that discipline and could look back and see it from an outside perspective, I could see the benefits and necessity of the discipline I was given.

This article did leave me with questions. Is there another perspective perhaps that is all encompassing? I believe there must be, for as was mentioned in class, our Creator knows everything in its entirety. He alone has the “third perspective” which is able to understand fully and completely all things. In I Corinthians 13:12, the apostle writes “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” No matter what our perspective, even when using both, we still are only “looking through a glass darkly” and cannot perfectly understand something until we get to heaven. Our earthly minds are not totally able to comprehend what God has made, and therefore, there is something about every “light beam” that we miss. Although we may have completed the picture, it is muddy, dark, and unclear. It will be without clear definition until our eyes are totally opened by Him.