The White Flag

In That Hideous Strength Lewis writes:

Yet, the very first moment you tried to be good, the universe let you down. It revealed gaps you had never dreamed of. It invented new laws for the express purpose of letting you down. That was what you got for your pains.

The cynics, then, were right. But at this thought, he stopped sharply. Some flavor that came with it had given him pause. Was this the other mood beginning again? Oh not that, at any price. He clenched his hands. No, no, no. He could not stand this much longer. He wanted Jane; he wanted Mrs. Dimble; he wanted Denniston. He wanted somebody or something. "Oh don't don't let me go back into it," he said; and then louder, "don't, don't." All that could in any sense be called himself went into that cry.... Tired like a child after weeping. A dim consciousness that the night must be nearly ended stole over him, and he fell asleep.

If we believe in the Good, the will universe will begin to disappoint and disenchant us. So do we give up like the cynics? No! This is why Jesus said we must become like children, if we are to enter the kingdom of God. We must be humble enough to live by faith and not by sight. We must exercise a simple faith that admits that we can't figure it all out. We can't live by reason alone. We have to put our faith in a God whom we cannot even begin to figure out. We must simply wave the white flag before the Hound of Heaven.