On the Canterbury Trail

It was my sad duty to say goodbye to C. S. Lewis' former home this morning and to the effervescent warden of the Kilns, Debbie Higgens.

From the Kilns I made the trek to Whipsnade Zoo just as C. S. Lewis did in September 1931. He said in Surprised by Joy that when he started for the zoo he did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God, but when he arrived he did. I know of no one else who has become a Christian on the way to a zoo.

From Whipsnade it was on to Watford to visit with my friend Steve Jenkins. He gave me the tour of his narrow boat, Gentle Breeze and treated me to a very fine pub lunch.

Steve's wife Anne received a very important letter from C. S. Lewis many years ago, a letter which figures largely in two of my books, The Professor of Narnia and The Hidden Story of Narnia. I cannot think of anyone more appropriate to have a very Narnian lamppost in their garden.

After lunch, Steve took me to my book signing at The Storehouse Christian bookshop in Watford where I signed and they sold a good number of my books. It was great to meet a number of wonderful people who stopped by to share in the event.

Now I am in Canterbury, ready for bed and worship tomorrow at the cathedral.

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Christmas Day Thought from Henri Nouwen

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Will Vaus

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