The Four Loves

Early in the book, Lewis discusses the necessity of taking a detour (through life) in order to draw nearer to God. He uses the metaphor of a man standing on the edge of a cliff, looking down at the village where he lives. However, there is no straight road down to the village. In order to reach his home, he must follow the path, which is long, winding, and leads him far away from the edge of the cliff where he could see his destination. In order to find his way back, he must stay on the path and keep his goal firmly in his mind so that he does not forget why he is walking. Whenever one is faced with the choice to act in a loving (God-like) manner, or to satisfy one’s own desires, one has reached the edge of the cliff. By staying on the path, however circuitous it becomes, the only way of drawing nearer to God during a mortal existence is to follow the path He has set and to try to act as He would.