Reading for Transformation

 One of the biggest things that I’ve taken from this class is changing the way I read texts. Often, we read material once and form an immediate opinion about it without really giving it much thought at all. 

 The article ‘Reading for Transformation’ states how “Poetry, as an event of meaning, potentially serves as a resonant site of Christian self-expression, prayer, and solidarity in community. As texts for prayer, certain poems invite us into liminal spaces of sacred encounter, where God’s grace expands our awareness of the holy within ourselves, our relationships, and our natural world.”

 I found this to be very eye opening. This selection goes back to what we have learned earlier in the year with lectio divina. When it comes down to it, we can examine every text given to us in a spiritual light. Whether we are reading passages from the bible or secular literature, we are still able to analyze words in a way where we view it in a prayerful context.  I really liked how he talked about the three things we can take away from reading for transformation.  “Whether in spiritual consolation or desolation, in times of deep faith or profound doubt, in all the moments and movements of human experience, certain poems offer a three-fold blessing. First, they offer us words that give voice to unspeakable or previously unspoken thoughts and feelings. Second, they offer us alternate worlds of possibility, ways of living and being where we explore personal, social, and spiritual transformations. Third, the wonder of such poems includes he invitation to greater and deeper self-awareness.”

 He gives the example of poetry after explaining this. I’ve loved learning more about poetry in Intro to Lit. Rather than just study the text of poetry, I have felt like Professor Corrigan has really stretched us to go further, examining poetry as a spiritual expression. Often times, I admit that I have simply scanned over the texts, taking in nothing but the words. I have learned this year that merely reading the words does nothing for the reader. Unless we search the text for greater meaning there is not much advantage for us.