When Becky, my daughter was in school she won several prestigious prizes for writing which indeed fuelled her love of writing. One of the prizes was at the University of Wales and the speech and prizes were given by none other than Rt Rev Dr Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Monmouth. It was in Monmouth that we first met him at James' confirmation.
However in The Guardian, Rowan stated as he did surprisingly numerous times in the celebratory speech at the prize awarding, that he
"does not wish to be thought of as a religious poet, but as a poet to whom religious things matter "intensely"."
Poetry can express so much of life. It can express clearly faith and a lack of faith. It can open a door, challenge our very being, but from a basis of secular writing. It can be profound or simple, make us chortle or cry.
Rowan Williams is a poet of some distinction and has a lively ability to touch people where they are at, or may be even where they should be. Some of Rowan Williams' poems are of a religious nature but from a secular understanding while others have no religious connotation at all but are still deeply spiritual.
Shouldn't this be true for us that we are not seen as a person of faith, but rather that we as individuals, are marked by our faith, which matters to us enormously and is central in our lives. Marked for what we are, rather than who we are.
Following this link, have a read of 'Gwen John in Paris' parts I and III in particularly: https://bit.ly/2KlTYHG - you can buy the full copy of The Poems of Rowan Williams by following the link.
If you're interested in hearing a little more from Rowan Williams, this interview is very informative giving an insight into his understanding of faith: http://monk.gallery/interviews/rowan-williams-interview/
Enjoy reading some of Rowan Williams poetry today and see if for you he opens a new door in your journey with Christ.
