When reading "A Grief Observed" one of the things that really struck me was the way C.S. Lewis compared his faith to a house of cards. He made the following statements:

"From the rational point of view what grounds has Helen's death given me for doubting all that I believe? Should it, for a sane man, make quite such a difference as this? No. And it wouldn't for a man whose faith had been real faith. The case is too plain. If my house has collapsed at one blow it is because it was a house of cards. Indeed, it's likely enough that what I shall call, if it happens, a 'restoration of faith', will turn out to be only one more house of cards."

As a man of faith, due to being so angry and at times overcome by his grief, he began to question whether his faith was faith at all or was it all his "imagination".  Had he just tricked himself into thinking he believed or was it actually real because during his grief  his faith seemed to be missing in action.  He later makes the statement

"..God has not been trying to experiment on my faith or love in order to find out their quality. He knew it already. It was I who didn't. In this trial He makes us occupy the dock, the witness box, and the bench all at once. He always knew that my temple was a house of cards. His only way of making me realize the fact was to knock it down."

This statement alone would make someone reflect on the faith that they believe they possess. Alot of times in life we have faith in God in the great times, the good times, and in the so-so times. But what about the times where it seems that your prayers are not going through, or a loved on is sick, or everything around you seems to be crumbling. As believers we have the faith to sustain us in the best of times but alot of the times it's like standing on sinking sand if the pendulum is swinging in the other direction. But regardless God already knows.

This book is like a fresh does of reality - kind of like that nasty medicine that your mom would try to get you to take as a child. This type of literature makes you reflect on various aspects of your life but it is also in your face. It challenges what you think you hold true.

Reading this book makes me think about the nature if God - that I have encountered for myself but many others may not know. You see in my time on this earth I have had a great deal of things come up and when I approached the door of God...no answer.  The silence of God at times stung like being snapped on the leg with a wet rag but it was necessary. Sometimes growth comes in silence -- because in due season the answer (revelation) will come in some cases but then again sometimes not at all.

I enjoy "A Grief Observed" because of the reality of the words -- this is someone's pain (in its rawest) form, not a facade. That is what a lot of believers need to know -- walking with Christ is not a cake walk. It's not sugar and spice and all that's nice - it's tears, trials and tribulation. But in the end it is all for the Glory of the One who created it all.