Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold

"Till We Have Faces" is my very favourite of the many excellent C. S. Lewis works I have read. On the surface, it is a retelling of the classic Greek myth of Psyche and Cupid, but in Lewis's capable hands it takes on far greater depth and signifigance- using the form of the myth, he creates a beautiful story of one woman's journey into bitterness and despair, and beyond it into joy. There are many striking themes woven into this tale, but the one that most impressed itself upon me was the question asked at the very end of the book, "how can we see the gods face-to-face until we have faces?" In other words, how can we understand God unless we are like Him? We are not like Him; He would not be God if we were- so how can we judge Him? We cannot judge Him; He is the one who judges us, and until we understand that, we are like the main character in this book, wandering bitterly in the dark because we will not accept the light on God's terms. Till We Have Faces is an incredible illustration of the truth that God is incomprehensible, and that when we attempt to judge Him we are really only judging ourselves. I very highly recommend this book!