Harold Bloom and Common Grace

This morning I am looking out over the half frozen over Severn river and reading Harold Bloom's reflections on "The Art of Reading Poetry," the introduction to his collection of "The Greatest Poems of the English Language." Sitting here sipping on a slowly cooling cup of coffee, I am struck by several things. First, by the delight it is to revel in the artistry of the way God's nearly cloudless sky is yet transformed into a profoundly subtle shade of pink with the rising of his sun. Incredible! What lessons of his tender greatness we should draw from not only this artfully gentle fracturing of light, but also from the ways that mankind is universally drawn up in his tracks to, even if only for a moment, stand in wondering appreciation of it.

Second, the intricate ways that he has equipped mankind with the ability follow in his footsteps by both crafting and appreciating our own creations; truly this must be one of the most privileged aspects of being made in his own image. We often take this as the height of man's glory, and yet only rarely is it recognized and affirmed as signature of our author.

Finally, as the title of Dr. Bloom's introduction names, the appropriate observation of and engagement in another's creation is an art itself, and thus requires skill, intentionality, and effort. While the finest artists (both man and God) pour themselves selflessly out into the production of their works, it stands to reason that the observers (as we all cannot help but be), bear a responsibility to, while caught in fascination by what we have encountered, extend the effort to praise and be moved by the skill of the artist.

- Drew

*The photo of the Severn above, while taken on a summer's evening, still somehow bears rather similar coloration to what I observed this morning.