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Poetry is not my preferred genre of literature, but when I served as the librarian at TFA we made sure we recognized April as National Poetry Month. There is no doubt that poetry has its place in the life of God’s children. The poetry of Psalms and Proverbs have played an important role in my spiritual journey. One of the 20th century’s most influential poets was T.S. Eliot, a fellow believer.
Born in America, he became a British citizen after the First World War. Like many in his generation, the fear and waste of the war left him disillusioned, seeking meaning in a world that had crumbled. During this time, he wrote "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." It’s considered by many the first masterpiece of Modernism. One of his most poignant lines states, “I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.” His next masterpiece was “The Waste Land,” throughout which the theme of dryness represented the emptiness of the soul.
He turned from despair to hope when he was converted in 1927 and became a member of the Church of England. Virginia Woolf, who was a friend of his, said after hearing him describe his conversion, “he may be called dead to us all from this day forward. He believes in God and immortality, and goes to church.” She predicted it would be short-lived, but she was wrong.
His writings began to depict the struggle in the search for truth. He was honest about his doubts. He felt that Christ (the Word) can only be heard by those with ears to hear. “Four Quartets,” his masterpiece, is a multilayered work with many allusions and themes, including those humans have always wrestled with: love, God, life, and death. It was published during WWII and brought hope to many during that terrible period.
The Bible tells us that Jesus used parables and that only those who truly listened were able to understand His truths. He would often say, “whoever has ears to hear, let them hear” (Matthew 5:9).
Today, let’s really listen to the Word, Jesus. He is calling us away from the dry desert of our world into His abundant life.
Tricia Whitaker
Connect with us for prayer or encouragement by sending an email to firstword@thefirstacademy.org
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