Floating in grace

Denise Levertov (b. 1923), London born poet, traces her slow movement from agnosticism to the Christian faith in a collection of poems called The Stream & the Sapphire.

Beyond the spaciousness of the poetry itself, Levertov’s journey reminds us that the movement towards faith is not about intellectual assent or the adherence of religious certainties. Rather we hear in Levertov’s poems a prayerful yearning and reaching that leads to a touching; a connecting with something beyond ourselves. Such moments are fleeting and yet their impression is lasting and transformative; the stuff of conversion. In this, Levertov joins the communion of whose hearts are warmed (John Wesley) upon the deep recognition of grace and love to me – even me.

Many of us are brought low by illness, unwelcome transitions, or a startling recognition of our human frailty and brokenness. Then, without warning, we experience sheer grace. We are lifted up, our wounds are bound, we are bathed in compassion and acceptance. Our lives are never the same.

 A poem by Denise Levertov:

 A Vowel
As swimmers dare to lie face to the sky and water bears them,
as hawks rest upon air and air sustains them,
so would I learn to attain freefall,
and float in Creator Spirit’s deep embrace,
knowing no effort earns that all-surrounding grace.