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In 1961, C. S. Lewis published A Grief Observed under the pseudonym N. W. Clerk. It was about the death of his wife, Joy, whom he referred to as H (her first name was Helen), which contained a relatively short collection of notes about his grief over loss of love and the perplexity that God took her so soon in their marriage. It is a candid examination of faith in God, who allows such afflictions upon those who trust in Him.
This book, A Grievance Observed, is a candid examination of faith in God from years of working in government service alongside a non-believer named Karl (not his real name), who challenged my own personal beliefs in the God of the Bible — not so much with words, but by confronting my own character on a daily basis. When Karl retired, there was no love lost. However, there remained a journal of encounters and activities I had kept that was never meant for public consumption. It began simply as a digest of my own affairs, particularly for documenting conflicts and struggles with co-workers, but eventually evolved into a chronicle of Karl's conflicts and struggles, primarily with me. Nowadays, it seems that everyone has a website, a blog, a social media presence, a podcast, a book. Karl has none of those, so it seemed appropriate that I publish the experience for the edification and amusement of others. |