"Meditation in a Toolshed" Response

In a nearly pitch-black tool shed C.S. Lewis glanced upon a beam of light. He could see the image for what it was, a beam of light. However, when moving so that the beam was upon his eyes, he was able to look along it and see another vision, one of trees, sky and the sun. The difference, he eloquently states is between looking along and looking at something.

To me, the most interesting example Lewis uses here in his essay is that of a physiologist studying pain. In a view of looking "at" it a physiologist can describe pain as the impulses upon our nervous system. However, this view is incomplete, or at least doesn't do pain justice. One can only understand pain once it has been experienced, looking "along" it. Telling someone who just burned themselves on a hot stove that "It's only your nervous system sending signals to your brain" wouldn't be a very nice or understanding thing to say. Without the experience of pain, the words have no meaning. I remember when I was a child I fell on to the road and scrapped a large chunk of skin off my elbow. But, I didn't feel any pain until I glanced at the wound and realized I had been hurt. This example was kind of a twist on pain: I wasn't able to look along it and experience it until I had looked at it. Again, telling me it was only neurons wouldn't have made me any happier. I believe that C.S. Lewis is hinting that experiencing the joys and comfort of religion is much the same. A mere understanding of what other people believe doesn't justify saying their religion is worthless. It takes full immersion, looking "along". Lewis argues, and I agree, that diving into such judgment without looking both at and along doesn't do you any favors. While looking "at" a situation may seem more objective that does not mean you are getting the better explanation. Sometimes, the best view can only be seen by being in the inside of the situation, you won't know until you look both ways.