Reflective Essays and Poetic Musings by Condemiang + Stories About the World

  Two mountain hydrangea blossoms, trembling in the rain a few days ago. A small corner of a garden, nestled in silence between two tall buildings in the heart of the city. That place is a small stage for passersby. They bloomed in an unfitting place, but what does it matter? A mountain hydrangea is simply a mountain hydrangea. Just because it’s the city doesn’t mean a mountain hydrangea becomes a rose. They were cooling their weary bodies and souls in the hot breeze from an air conditioner unit. "Do I belong here?" Suddenly, a question toward myself rose up. A few days later, two mountain hydrangeas swayed in the midsummer heat. Those two hearts, now dried of moisture, looked weary in the sauna-like heat. That place is the shelter of those pitiful plants. It’s a place that doesn’t suit them, but what can be done? Life is simply life. Just because it's not the place they wanted doesn't mean they can move by their own will. They were waiting once more for the day the...

Romans 8 declares five core principles of Christian life—No Condemnation, Life in the Spirit, Identity as God’s Children, Redeemed Suffering, and Inseparable Love . Through C. S. Lewis’s insights, real-life testimonies, and Scripture, this message shows how these truths operate powerfully in our daily walk. It doesn’t end in understanding but invites us into a lived transformation. 1. No Condemnation – A New Beginning of Freedom “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). This is not just a statement but a triumphant shout of the gospel that God has broken the chains of guilt. Many live under the burden of past sins and failures, but God has set us free. Paul does not present the absence of condemnation as a mere doctrine, but as a life-transforming reality. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, the penalty we deserved has been paid. Guilt no longer defines us—grace gives us our new name. C.S. Lewis once wrote, “The real chall...

Drawing from C. S. Lewis’s insights, this message addresses five key obstacles— Pride ,  Doubt ,  Fear ,  Distraction , and  Self‑sufficiency —that weaken prayer and hinder intimacy with God, illustrated through real‑life examples, Scripture verses, and Lewis’s quotations.  As we learn to recognize and overcome these barriers, prayer is restored as a living, powerful means for transformation and communion with God. 1. Pride – The Invisible Enemy in Prayer C. S. Lewis once stated, “Pride is the greatest sin and is completely opposed to God.”  This powerful declaration reveals how destructive pride can be—especially in prayer. Pride is subtle.  It masquerades as confidence, strength, and control, quietly infiltrating our hearts and altering how we relate to God. Often, we mistakenly think we are spiritually strong, yet this "silent poison" may actually be distancing us from Him. God does not desire eloquent words—He desires a humble and contrite heart fu...

Clive Staples Lewis (1898–1963) A British literary scholar, Christian apologist, and fantasy writer. C. S. Lewis was “a man who understood God with reason and felt Him with imagination.” Once an atheist in his youth, he journeyed through war and suffering, philosophy and literature, ultimately arriving at faith. He became one of the greatest thinkers and storytellers of the 20th century, building bridges between reason and belief, pain and hope, reality and fantasy. Childhood and the Beginning of Imagination He came from a cultured middle-class family. His father, Albert, was a solicitor, and his mother, Florence, an educated woman, taught Lewis both mathematics and literature.  From early childhood, Lewis was a boy rich in imagination. Together with his older brother Warren, he created an imaginary kingdom called “Boxen,” inventing stories and drawing maps for it.  However, in 1908, at the young age of nine, he suffered a great loss when his mother died of peritonitis. A...