I really loved this quote.
I think that to some degree, all Christians are called to be poets - fearlessly finding words about Jesus that deeply impact those who hear them. Walter Brueggemann, who I met with on sabbatical, constantly stresses that the only words that can really convey God are poetic words. God cannot be reduced to principles and propositions...the only words that do Him justice are poetry.
Kenyon's quote and Brueggemann's ideas inspired me to write this...
Words about God should touch us deeply and change us. What an honor and responsibility to share those types of words with the world.
"The poet's job is to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, in such a beautiful way that people cannot live without it, to put into words those feelings we all have that are so deep, so important, and yet so difficult to name. The poet's job is to find a name for everything: to be a fearless finder of the names of things: to be an advocate for the beauty of language, the subtleties of language."
-- Jane Kenyon, poet, A Hundred White Daffodils (Greywolf Publishing)
I think that to some degree, all Christians are called to be poets - fearlessly finding words about Jesus that deeply impact those who hear them. Walter Brueggemann, who I met with on sabbatical, constantly stresses that the only words that can really convey God are poetic words. God cannot be reduced to principles and propositions...the only words that do Him justice are poetry.
Kenyon's quote and Brueggemann's ideas inspired me to write this...
One Day...
Humor the begging poet
Gathering his word scraps,
Envisioning a feast.
For one day
When your cup of reason breaks
You may find yourself hungry
Longing for his table.
Words about God should touch us deeply and change us. What an honor and responsibility to share those types of words with the world.
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