Byron's Babbles

I love exploring the layers of meaning in literature and pondering what lessons I can take away from them. I am reading George MacDonald’s Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women right now. After spending last month at The Kilns outside Oxford England continuing my study of C. S. Lewis as a Scholar in Residence, I needed to spend some time digging in on the man who Lewis considered to be one of his biggest influences, both personally and in a literary sense. C. S. Lewis spoke of reading Phantastes and it changing his life. Just as one can tell the influence different artists have had on rock bands, I believe I can sense the influence MacDonald had on Lewis’s writing. One of the first things that has jumped out at me is the attention to detail and use of imagery and symbolism.

Let me give you an example from Chapter 2 in Phantastes: Anodos (the book’s central character) said, “And, stranger still, where this carpet, which I had myself designed to imitate a field of grass and daisies, bordered the course of the little stream, the grass-blades and daisies seemed to wave in a tiny breeze that followed the water’s flow; while under the rivulet they bent and swayed with every motion of the changeful current, as if they were about to dissolve with it, and, forsaking their fixed form, become fluent as the waters.” MacDonald’s attention to detail truly made the fixed forms fluent in my mind. The fact that MacDonald also sets it up that Anodose designed the carpet himself to resemble the field of flowers told us that Anodos had been seeking the life he was finding in this faerie tale.

“An almost perfect relationship with his father was the earthly root of all his wisdom. From his own father, he said, he first learned that Fatherhood must be at the core of the universe.” C. S. Lewis speaking of George MacDonald

I believe MacDonald was trying to convey a deeper message about the interconnectedness of nature and our perceptions of reality in that passage. The imagery of the grass and daisies appearing to move with the flow of the stream could symbolize how our beliefs and perceptions can influence our experiences and interactions with the world around us.

Our beliefs and perceptions are heavily influenced by our experiences and interactions with the world around us. These experiences shape our understanding of the world, impacting we interpret events, people, and situations. Our interactions with others also play a significant role in shaping our beliefs perceptions, as we learn from their perspectives and incorporate them into our own worldview. Ultimately, our beliefs and perceptions are constantly evolving as we continue to engage with the world around us.

This morning I finished rereading the last book in The Chronicles of Narnia series. I read the series in publication order this time because I wanted more of the feel that C. S. Lewis had in writing the series. I know there are lots of opinions out there, with many of those opinions coming from those with greater literary acumen than my own, but I believe the best way to read the Chronicles are in publication order. The beauty of The Chronicles of Narnia, and all works of fiction for that matter, is the reader gets to know and understand all the characters by the end of the last chronicle. This is what I have come to love from reading fiction – we can ponder and reflect by knowing all about each character. Very rarely do we get everything in non-fiction. As you know, I read a lot of non-fiction, so this is not a lobby against non-fiction; just a nod for why I mix fiction into my reading. I love how fiction makes me think deeply.

In fact in the dedication of The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe to his goddaughter Lucy Barfield, C.S. Lewis shared, “I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again…”

“To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence…But to carry on into middle life or even into early manhood this concern about being grown up is a mark of really arrested development. When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.” ~ 1952 essay “On Three Ways of Writing For Children” by C. S. Lewis

In a quote at the end of The Last Battle, by C.S. Lewis, says, “You see,” said Aslan. “They will not let us help them. They have chosen cunning instead of belief. Their prison is only in their own minds, yet they are in that prison; and so afraid of being taken in that they cannot be taken out” (p. 88-89). This quote is referring to the Calormenes who have chosen not to believe in Aslan and instead rely on their own cunning and deceit. Aslan is pointing out that their lack of belief and trust in something greater than themselves is what keeps them trapped in their own fears and limitations. By choosing to remain closed off to help and guidance, they are essentially imprisoning themselves in their own minds. It serves as a reminder that sometimes we need to have faith and trust in something beyond ourselves in order to break free from our own mental barriers. That something may be our community, family, friends, or our spiritual support.

We can prevent our minds from becoming the prison that Aslan describes in The Last Battle by practicing mindfulness and self-awareness. By being present in the moment acknowledging our thoughts and emotions without judgment, we can start to break free from thought patterns and limiting beliefs. It’s also important to seek support from others and be open to receiving help and guidance when needed. Remember, it’s okay to not have all the answers and to rely on others for support.

Another lesson from C. S. Lewis jumped out at me this morning as I continued my rereading of Mere Christianity. Lewis said, “Christ told us to judge by results. A tree is known by its fruit; or, as we say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. When we Christians behave badly, or fail to behave well, we are making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world” (p. 207). Yes, he was speaking about Christianity and the fact that people not acting in concordance with what they say keeps others from believing Christianity, but I believe there is a lesson for everyone here. Our actions and results matter! Leaders can apply this lesson by focusing on the outcomes of their actions and decisions. They should strive to lead by example and demonstrate the values they preach. By showing integrity, compassion, and responsibility in their leadership, they can earn trust and credibility from their followers and society as a whole. In other words, walking the talk.

Another metaphor that could be used is the idea of a lighthouse. Just as a lighthouse guides ships safely to shore in the midst of a storm, leaders should guide their followers through challenging times with wisdom, strength, and direction. The light from a l serves as a beacon of hope and stability, just as a’s actions and decisions can provide reassurance and guidance to those who look up to them.

Actually, we need to consider the lighthouse metaphor lacking today from a results standpoint. Just like leaders must continue to grow and develop in both technical and emotional intelligence, there have been advances making the use of lighthouses obsolete in some cases. If we want more accurate information to that of a few feet given by a light we would need a Global Positioning System (GPS) plotter with a heads-up display able to work in any light level or any weather conditions, and overlay navigation marks onto a real-world view. But let’s not forget that sometimes GPS systems may fail for certain reasons. So having a more analog system like lighthouses can serve as a backup.

The need for new navigation and GPS systems reflects the ever-evolving technological advancements help individuals navigate through complex situations with precision and efficiency. Similarly, leaders who embrace the latest tools and strategies are able to adapt to changing environments and lead their teams effectively in a fast-paced world.

On the other hand, the lighthouse represents a more traditional and reliable form of guidance that has stood the test of time. Old school leaders, like the lighthouse, rely on their experience, wisdom, and core values to provide steady and unwavering direction to their followers. While they may not always have the flashiest or most innovative approaches, their commitment to timeless principles ensures stability and trust in times of uncertainty. Bottom line is all of these examples go back to and reinforce the idea that we should be judged by our results.

I am about half way through my reread of The Horse and His Boy (1954) by C. S. Lewis and loving it. This is the 5th book in published order of The Chronicles of Narnia series. This book has a great many little quips that make me think of life’s many lessons. Yesterday I read, “He had not yet learned that if you do one good deed your reward usually is to be set to do another and harder and better one.” This quote was speaking of Shasta and it made me reflect on one of the things I have really had to watch, as a leader – when we have someone really good at something and shows how responsible, hard-working, or high achieving they are, I would often reward them with more work. I always had to remind myself how important it was to consider the well-being of others and not bombard them with constant requests for good deeds. It is important to spread out our requests in order for others’ abilities to also be developed and highlighted. We also need to show appreciation for the help we receive. Communication and gratitude are key in maintaining positive relationships when asking for help.

Some leaders justify this by considering it “pushing” the top performers. The problem is, many of those top performers see it as allowing the lower performers do less. An eye opener for me was when, several years ago, a top performer said to me, “I need you to stop pushing me so hard and come along side me and help me learn and grow some more.” Wow, I needed that punch to the gut. She was right! She didn’t want me to quit recognizing she was a top performer, but wanted me to not run her into the ground. Just as Shasta, in The Horse and His Boy, was learning “that if you do one good deed your reward usually is to be set to do another and harder and better one,” I was learning the effects those rewards.

The bottom line here is that we need to help manage the workload. Doing great work should lead to more responsibilities and opportunities for growth. This should not, however, mean just more work added to an already full plate. Adjustments must be made be made and when responsibilities are added, something needs to be subtracted. We must also at the same time create a positive culture of continuous improvement and growth. Appropriate recognition and rewards mixed with fair distribution of the organization’s work are key here.