Nature Abhors a Vacuum

Key Takeaways

• Love of neighbor requires prior love of God, per Lewis.
• True love stems from being, not fleeting feelings.
• Emptiness of self invites divine filling; nature abhors a vacuum.
• Realizing God's source counters pride without self‑deprecation.
• Lewis compares love to life's transmission, not pleasure.

Pulse Analysis

The recently published *Letters on Living the Faith* brings together C.S. Lewis’s lesser‑known correspondence, offering a fresh lens on his theological legacy. The May 23, 1944 letter to Edith Gates showcases Lewis’s wartime reflections, blending personal counsel with broader Christian doctrine. By invoking George MacDonald, Lewis situates his argument within a tradition that sees love as a hierarchical ascent—first toward God, then toward neighbor—providing readers a historical anchor for his spiritual counsel.

Central to the letter is the claim that love is rooted in "being" rather than emotion. Lewis argues that feelings are unreliable, subject to fatigue and intellectual overuse, whereas the deeper self‑presence can be filled by divine presence when emptied of ego. This notion mirrors mystic ideas that the soul must become a vacuum for God’s influx, a concept that resonates with contemporary mindfulness practices emphasizing surrender and inner stillness over transient sentiment.

For today’s audience, Lewis’s distinction between feeling and being offers practical guidance for ethical decision‑making and personal growth. Recognizing that pride can be mitigated by attributing good outcomes to God, rather than self‑achievement, aligns with modern leadership models that emphasize humility and purpose. The letter’s inclusion in the new anthology ensures that these timeless insights reach a broader, digitally native readership, reinforcing Lewis’s relevance in ongoing conversations about faith, morality, and the human condition.