Favorite Books Read in 2022 - Number 6
A true story of love, loss, and the "severe mercy" of God
A Severe Mercy - Sheldon Vanauken
I have been meaning to read this book for years. For a myriad of reasons I just didn’t. Inspired by the June “severe mercy month” by the Pints with Jack podcast, I decided that this year was the year I would jump in.
A Severe Mercy is the life story of Sheldon “Van” Vanauken and his wife Jean “Davy” Vanauken. The couple fall deeply in love almost from the time their eyes meet. They are both what can best be described as modern-day pagans—two people devoted to poetry, opera, books, sailing, and the gods who gave them their love. They speak often of their “inloveness” and resolve to do everything together. If one of them takes up a new hobby, the other one does too. If one of them begins reading a new book, the other one vows to read it as well.
They also erect for themselves what they call their “Shining Barrier,” a fortress that will protect them from all outside influences and their own selfishness. There is only one problem. Christ breaks through during the couple's time at Oxford and brings Davy under deep conviction of her lost, sinful condition. She surrenders to Christ and thus a “threat” is introduced to the Shining Barrier. Davy's devotion is now divided as she follows Christ with all of the fervor she once reserved only for Van and their human inloveness. The rest of the book revolves around Van's struggle with Davy's passionate love for Another, a life-threatening illness, several letters from their new friend C. S. Lewis, and a “severe mercy.”
I cannot recommend this book highly enough, especially for those that are considering marriage. To be sure, the Van and Davy’s devotion to their inloveness seems fanatical and terribly earnest by today’s standards. However, today’s standards of moving toward marriage seem terribly flip and immature. Modern couples could use a strong dose of being earnest about things that matter. And marriage between one man and one woman most definitely matters.
The book is also of note for fans of C. S. Lewis. Van writes to Lewis several times, asking the Oxford don how he (such a learned man) could accept something as dubious as the Christian faith. Lewis’ answers are full of warm but forthright counsel to someone he perceives as putting up a good fight, but nevertheless nearing the precipice of falling into God’s hands. Once Van finally surrenders and professes Christ as Savior, Lewis writes him a joyous, poignant note of congratulations:
My prayers are answered.
There will be a counter attack on you, you know, so don’t be too alarmed when it comes. The enemy will not see you vanish into God’s company without an effort to reclaim you. Be busy learning to pray and (if you have made up yr. mind on the denominational question) get confirmed. Blessings on you and a hundred thousand welcomes. Make use of me in any way you please: and let us pray for each other always.1
This is a staggering letter. According to the third volume of Walter Hooper’s Collected Letters of C. S. Lewis, this letter from Lewis to Van is dated April 17, 1951. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe had been written the year before. Although his mail would become more voluminous later on, the demands on Lewis’ time were already considerable. Lewis’ letter reveals has been praying for Van, was thrilled at his conversion, and then ended his congratulatory letter by declaring, “Make use of me in any way you please.” What a staggering thing to write to someone Lewis had never met in person (although they would meet in person very soon after).
If you have never read A Severe Mercy and you are a fan of C. S. Lewis, you have found your next read.
Memorable Quotes
“I didn’t want God aboard. He was too heavy. I wanted Him approving from a considerable distance. I didn’t want to be thinking of Him. I wanted to be free—like Gypsy [the couple’s dog]. I wanted life itself, the colour and fire and loveliness of life. And Christ now and then, like a loved poem I could read when I wanted to. I didn’t want us to be swallowed up in God. I wanted holidays from the school of Christ. We should, somehow, be able to have the Shining Barrier intact and follow the King of Glory. I didn’t want to be a saint. Almost none of this did I consciously know—just longings.”2
“I had always served beauty. Davy and I together had loved beauty. Now, maybe, I was worshipping beauty in the Christian God while Davy was worshipping God. There may be danger in the love of beauty, though it seems treason to say it. Perhaps it can be a snare.”3
“It is, I think, that we are all so alone in what lies deepest in our souls, so unable to find the words, and perhaps the courage to speak with unlocked hearts, that we don't know at all that it is the same with others.”4
“Go under the Mercy.”5
Sheldon Vanauken, A Severe Mercy, Davy’s ed., 2nd ed (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1980), 101-102.
Vanauken, 136.
Vanauken, 141.
Vanauken, 238.
Vanauken, 177.