Mud Pies
“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” – C S Lewis, The Weight of Glory, London, Harper Collins, 1968.
I’ve come across this quote a few times, and it’s stayed with me. The part about “mud pies in a slum.”
I’ve been battling something which is big for me recently. At the heart of it is the question of surrendering to God, not knowing if the situation will ever change, or trying to solve the thing for myself? There is nothing easy about this decision and it is an all-out fight to choose to trust God. I don’t even really want to, to be honest, but deeper than that feeling, is this love that I experience in Him, this indescribable love that I have for Him, that means I can’t and won’t turn away.
But in the middle of this struggle, this thought about “mud pies” keeps coming into my mind. As if God is speaking to me about expectation. That the ‘solutions’ I come up with are like these “mud pies.” They might seem to solve the problem or bring some kind of satisfaction, but they are so nothing compared with the wonder and fullness to be found in Him, even in the hard circumstances. It’s just that so often I fail to catch a glimpse of this. I am tempted to settle for “mud pies in a slum” rather than “a holiday at the sea.”
I am learning through all of this how important it is to keep vision in God. To look to Him with expectancy, not so much for what He’ll do for me, but for the wonder and beauty and richness and joy to be found in living every moment with Him.
May He restore that vision so that the “mud pies in the slum” would be seen for what they really are.
Thank you, Birgit! I’ve been making mud pies recently. Wondering how much nicer it would be if things would go my way, instead of His. We are so limited in our understanding of what is best for us. We’re so easily deceived by the things of this world. We want what we want when we want it…
I am having a hard time choosing to stick with His vision. The warfare rages as I continue to question. I wonder, if I’ll give up my questions, and walk boldly in Truth, how much quicker the battle will end…?
My prayers are with you, Birgit, as I continue to pray for myself. We WILL overcome through Him. Bless you!
Hi Birgit and hi to the stalkers that google me hehe. Yes I know the analogy you describe. It is like eating the crumbs that fall from the banquet rather than having the banquet itself. It is like chasing a white rabbit and missing out on the beauty that is in store for you. Interesting how CS Lewis gives the drinks and sex example. A lot of people think, “if it feels good then why not do it?” But that is short term pleasure seeking rather than thinking of the long term. My uncle recently said to me when I asked him advice on something. He said “your spiritual walk is the most important walk and the one you should be investing your energies in.” I believe we have to be discerning and think about where our actions are taking us. My aim is always to end up lying in green pastures and beside still waters, where there is peace in my soul. Whatever path will take me there, that is the one I want to take. With love your friend Laree
Michelle, I relate to so much of what you said here, and the struggle you are going through. One line really stood out for me in your reply – “We are so limited in our understanding of what is best for us.” I feel like God is asking me to just hold on, to just trust Him because He knows what is best for me, He knows the future, and in Him we have the promise of a future that is good, one with peace and hope (Jer.29:11). I know that my plans could never compare. It is so good we can pray for each other. Thinking of you xo
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To my dear friend, Laree, it is so good to hear your thoughts. So funny that you greeted your stalkers, how did you know they find you here? I knew you had one or two because I can see when people have searched for you here, ha, ha
Like I said to Michelle above, I relate to so much of what you have said. Settling for the crumbs rather than the banquet, being satisfied for so much less than God has prepared for us.
I love your point about thinking of the long rather than pleasure-seeking in the moment, and that our actions are ultimately taking us somewhere. It reminds me of that verse in the Bible that says, “set your minds on the things above” (Col.3:2). Like you, my hope is to find satisfaction in Him. Lots of love to you, Birgit xo
Hi Birgit, I have found I do this weird thing where I think I am trusting God and I even feel like I am trusting Him, but I still try to “do something about it” on my own. It never works. Someday I will just wait on Him like I end up doing anyway.
Birgit,
This was incredible. I am in related conversations with Him. Thank you for the encouragement.
Roxx
That is one of my favourite CS Lewis quotes because it reminds us never to settle for second best. I understand your struggle here, I know I too would often rather settle for a solution, temporary or second best, but at least it’s a solution and I can adapt and move on. It is the waiting and not knowing that is the worst.
But even as you mention here how it’s your love for Him that is keeping you from turning and doing your own thing I am so aware of His tender love for you. He will never fail you or forsake you, His ways are perfect, He holds you tenderly in the palm of His hand. Hold on Birgit, don’t settle, I’ll pray for your faith to be strengthened. Lots of love:)
Hi Tawny
Great point, and I know what you mean. I love the way God perseveres with us the whole way until finally we realise and then let go and rest in Him. Lovely to see you, and lots of blessings xo
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Hi Roxx, wow, it is so good to know you can relate, bless you lots friend
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Rain, it is beautiful what you’ve said here. So encouraging. The hardest part I find is trusting Him when it hurts to. Letting go, just because you know in your heart that He knows better, and trusting Him with no ‘evidence’ about how He is going to work things out. Hard. But He is infinitely good and I do trust Him.
It blessed me so much what you said about God’s love, and holding on. Thank you so much for your prayers dear friend, lots of love.
I have GOT to read that book! These thoughts you share here give one a moment to stop and look around. Am I settling for a cheap imitation of a more glorious reality? If I know of the better thing what is my motivation for not engaging it? May you be able to fix your eyes on the Author of the holiday at the sea so that when he beckons follow me you will do so willingly.
@ngie, it is so great the way this passage has inspired these questions you ask. It’s such a good thing to question where we are with God I think, especially if the answers we find draw us closer to Him, and to experiencing more of Who He is and His will for our lives. With love to you.