on poetry.

{i wrote this last week, and forgot to publish it after is saved it as a draft...whoops!}

“In Science we have been reading only the notes to a poem; in Christianity we find the poem itself.” 

--Miracles

i have a mild obsession with poetry, with Keats to be specific. 

Keats' poetry explores the beauty of human existence, of how even as we are awaiting ultimate death, life casts the shadow away from our frail souls. 

One of my favorite poems by him, "Endymion" begins:

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever:

It’s loveliness increases; it will never

Pass into nothingness; but still will keep

A bower for us, and a sleep

Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.”

--John Keats

 Combined with Lewis’ assertion that Christianity is the poem of existence, Keats’ poem made me think of Christianity in a new way.

 Christianity is a thing of beauty, something that lasts forever, stretching beyond all time.

It’s loveliness increases as we come to realize its beauty and its truth.

Christianity will never pass into nothingness, but is a fact, the very essence of being.

But, it will keep a place of refuge for us, a place of rest from all cares.

Christianity allows us to have sweet dreams, to have full hope.

It gives us health of spirit, freshness untainted by cynicism and bitterness.

With Christianity, we can breathe, for Christianity gives us new life.

I’ve often thought of the absence of poetry in discussing the gospel.

It’s as if I wished for trumpets and stained glass windows and candles and frescos.

Christianity doesn’t need any of those things, although I still think they are very beautiful.

Rather Christianity is the poem itself.