Christian Wiman, poet and long-time editor of “Poetry” Magazine, has released a new book, a series of interwoven essays that explore his relationship with God and faith. A modern-day Confessions.
“There is a distinction to be made between the anxiety of daily existence, which we talk about endlessly, and the anxiety of existence, which we rarely mention at all. The former fritters us into dithering, distracted creatures. The latter attests to–and, if attended to, discloses–our souls….To be truly alive is to feel one’s ultimate existence within one’s daily existence.”
In 2006, Christian Wiman was diagnosed with an incurable cancer. In response, he wrote “Love Bade Me Welcome,” an essay that explores his floundering faith. My Bright Abyss is the result of a continued exploration of faith and the nature of God:
“When my life broke open seven years ago, I knew very well that I believed in something. Exactly what I believed, however, was considerably less clear. So I set out to answer that question, though I have come to realize that the real question–the real difficulty–is how, not what. How do you answer that burn of being? What might it mean for your life–and for your death–to acknowledge that insistent, persistent ghost?”
Wiman’s unique artistic voice in the spiritual essay is candid and deep, and a welcome addition to the canon.
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