Tag: TS Eliot

Lent and poetry.

In the desert.

Lent is a time of questioning and reflection- such a meaningful time in the Christian calendar. We think of Jesus in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights, of the temptations he faced in this wilderness time. And we make space to take time out to reflect in prayer and meditation. We pray that God will transform us in the wilderness, and bring us closer to Christ.

There are many bible readings, meditations and Christian apps which give us meaningful tools to help us in our prayer. One resource that perhaps we don’t speak of enough is poetry. There are amazing poets over the centuries, from George Herbert, to John Milton, from Gerald Manley Hopkins to Mary Oliver. Their poems can inspire awe, acknowlege complex emotions, and a deep reverence for God.

When it comes to Lent, the poet I always return to is TS Eliot, the poet who wrote ‘the Wasteland’ in 1922. It is not an easy poet to interpret with all its historical and literary allusions, but it is a poem to feel- it is written after the horrors of the first world war, and capures that feeling of alienation, sorrow and the emptiness of life.

Other poems of TS Eliot are ‘Ash Wednesday’ and ‘The Four Quartets’. ‘Ash Wednesday’ expresses some of the turbulence of faith, but ends with the words ‘And let my cry come unto Thee’. In the Four Quartets, in  section V of ‘Little Gidding’ there are the following lines;

‘We shall not cease from exploration             And the end of all our exploring                      Will be to arrive where we started           And know the place for the first time.’

This seems such a profound description of life- we go on all these adventures, we have the experiences good and bad. And in the end the insights we gain, the things we learn, come full circle, and we see everything in a new light, with fresh perspective.

In the desert, we have the opportunity to walk closely with God, and to let some things go as no longer being as significant as we thought, and to rediscover the power of love, mercy and forgiveness. It was the holy spirit who led Jesus into the desert, and who leads us in our lives to draw closer to Him. Poetry might not be for everyone, but it can be a resource to helps us articulate our struggles, our fears and our doubts, and to know that we are not alone as we do so.

Creator God, we thank You that You are in all things, from the rivers of tranquility and peace, to the dry, harsh heat of the desert. Lord Jesus, we thank you that You bless us with everything we need in season, from times of solace, to times of trial and temptation, and You understand our struggles. When we are questioning or feel alone, send your Holy Spirit to speak to us, though Your Word, though art, poetry and theatre. Remind us that our lives have meaning and value, even when we can’t see it. Whatever we are going though, give us fresh insight, a motivation to live in relationship to You, to pray, and may our cries come unto You.

Legacy of love.

Today is the anniversary of the booklaunch of ‘Love song for a wounded warrior’. I am so grateful for all who have been so supportive, prayerful and understanding to our story. That has made such a difference.

I started writing Colin’s story because I was journalling. I have kept a prayer journal for many years. When Colin became too unwell to complete his writings, I wanted to use my writings to give context to his words, to try to explain that they were fragments of his experiences, because over time to lost the capacity to relate his memories. I hope to eventually feel a sense of completion to have honoured his wishes in this way. Thankyou to all of you for helping me do this.

One of the things I learned about Colin’s complex military traumas was that he felt better when he told his story, was heard and understood. He felt alive telling stories about his experiences, whether it was a critical incident or a car bomb. And so there is something so powerful about sharing something of your interior life, and being heard, even if just by one person.

For me, Colin has left a legacy of love. He showed me what courage looked like, humour in the face of distress, defiance against the odds, faith in no man’s land, in a bleak and desolate territory of nothingness.

So, now I have to ask God to continue my healing, and remind me of my purpose to let these experiences enable me to in turn support others. I want to use my legacy learnings for good in the world. God is guiding me through this process, and I am so grateful. One of my learnings is that I really enjoy writing, and I want to continue this, at least for this season. I think I want to write some more contemplative pieces also, so there might be more variety in what I offer.

In the ‘Four Quartets’ T S Eliot wrote ‘ in my end is my beginning’. The circularity of life cycles is striking, and I pray that for all of us, in the midst of grief and painful endings, new buds and new life will emerge.

I often go back to the words of Jesus in John chapter 12:24 ‘ I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.’

This helps me make sense of life, for sometimes dreams, familiar ways of thinking, even people have to die. But in the mystery of all things, there gradually emerges new life and possibilities.

For anyone struggling with trauma, fear and grief, I desire healing and new possibilities for you. It is a difficult road, but our Saviour walks with us, and we explore the legacy of His love forever.

Gracious God, You know all things, You love us, and redeem our life from the pit, and crown us with love and compassion. When we are in that dark pit however, we grumble and complain and cry out to You, for we feel scared and alone. And through the cross, Lord Jesus, You offer us cleansing, and forgiveness and acceptance. You embrace us with the blanket of your love, and keep us safe. May we humbly receive your grace. Give us courage to tell our story, and to find our healing. May your holy spirit help us honour legacies of love, and use our learnings and insights to he an encouragement and blessing to others, Amen.