Two Jacks died on November 22, 1963. The assassination of the first, John F. (“Jack”) Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, made international headlines, and still frequently does. The death of the other, C. S. (“Jack”) Lewis, an unpretentious Oxford don, went almost unnoticed. And yet, 53 years later he is considered one of the most influential spiritual thinkers of all time. Outside of their dying on the same date (and being of Northern Irish heritage), there is little to connect them.
Yet each marked a turning point in my life.
I was 13 when Jack Kennedy was shot, a dreamy kid who, apart from the Cuban Missile Crisis the year before, paid little attention to the world around me. I hadn’t needed to. Everything would be fine. People were good. Life was good. And then the unthinkable happened: a man full of inexplicable rage had murdered the president. And the clean, orderly world was suddenly full of blood and chaos. Coach Sebo told us at the start of P.E., and then cancelled all activity. A few of us silently followed him into the gym and watched as the normally stoic man sat sobbing at his desk. And then we cried. Because if Coach Sebo was crying something must be permanently broken. A short time later I discarded all remaining shreds of belief and announced that I was an atheist.
But 13 years later (what is it about that number), the other Jack invaded my life. My backwards pilgrimage to faith—a faith based in reality, rather than guileless, boyish 
longing—had led me to doubt my doubts, and finally to leap toward the God who was there when I was born and would be there when I died. The moment I landed, I found (through his essays and stories) my spiritual father waiting. Jack Lewis’ own journey half a century before became a map that guided me, and the growth of his witty, greathearted spirit a fire that warmed me–and still does.
So every year on this date I celebrate a double anniversary: one that marks my awakening to the darkness enshrouding our world, and one that marks my embracing of the light that shatters that darkness.
Incidentally, my first child was born 13 years later. What is it about that number?
Mere Christianity was one of my first reads when I was struggling for belief! 🙂
Me too, though, owing to my state of mind at the time, the first Christian book I read was Lewis’s The Problem of Pain.
Ah. I have that one and haven’t read it yet. Someday. Thanks for you post. It reminded me to keep reading. 🙂
Mitch as Bob Hope would sing THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
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Maybe it is the Baker’s Dozen… that 13th one is a bonus. You certainly enjoyed ‘such a thing’ as a bonus with each 13! 😊👍🏻
Well, it hasn’t always been positive news (e.g. Kennedy’s death), but it’s always been momentous.
Quite true… forgot that part. 🙄
I haven’t read mere Christianity but I loved Screwtape letters! CS Lewis is still a great author and affecting new generations to this day. I didn’t realize the connection with Kennedy though. Cool post.
Thank you, Elle. Yes, Screwtape is a delight!
Fabulous testimony! Happy Thanksgiving! God bless!
Thank you, Nancy. You too!
Wonderful post, Mitch.
Thank you!
This was interesting. I was struck by the multiple coincidences, and I was unaware that these two men died on the same day.
The Apostles + Jesus before Satan entered Judas?
This is so interesting! I had no idea that C.S. Lewis died on the same day as President Kennedy. The 22 November is an important day in my life, too. I must read Mere Christianity.
I highly recommend it.