Poetry: The Reflection of God 

FAITH NEWSWIRE – The author, Dr Edwin Yip has composed some very meaningful poems in his book ‘Glorifying God Centred in Christ’. The purpose, he maintains, is to glorify God, through meditation on the poetry. Dr Edwin Yip’s goal is to help Christians grow in faith and to understand what it means to be a Christian.

But why poetry? “If you are a Christian, it does not really matter whether you like poetry or not,” the author explains. “For example, even if you do not like the literary styles in the book of Psalms, you can still study and learn from it. Of course, if you enjoy poetry then that’s a bonus. This book is more than a collection of poems. It has reflective questions and my own comments besides each poem. In other words, its main value is as a devotional tool.” 

Why the author decided to write down his inspiration for these poems is because he was sharing a personal poem he had written in front of others. He realised he wanted to share all his poetry and bring joy to his readers.

Dr Yip gives an overview of the time in his life when he felt he wanted to write his poetry. “Although I have written a few poems relating to my faith in the past, it was not enough to form a collection. During my brief missional trip to Tonga in 2016, I had the opportunity to share a personal poem I had written with other believers, and I was encouraged by the responses of those who heard it. 

“At the same time, I was inspired by one of the sisters who travelled with me. Her main role during the trip was to impart knowledge and wisdom and encouragement to caregivers and families looking after children with autism. This is made possible through her experience in bringing up her youngest child with autism. She also went on to write a book called ‘Mikey & Me’ which shares her personal journey. Her story has become a source of hope and blessing to others.

“I also wanted to write something that can inspire and help others, to cultivate and strengthen their spiritual growth. As I thought about what my spiritual gift(s) are and what I can do for Christ, the idea of writing and publishing a poetry collection was born.”

So how does the author believe his collection of poems can glorify God? “It’s personal,” he declares. “It’s a reflection of my gratitude to God and what he has done in my life. I hope others can appreciate what I have written even if they are not into poetry. Furthermore, I hope they are inspired to focus on their own gifts and passions to glorify God.” 

Editor’s Note: this article may be re-produced, without requiring permission.