The 12th Book featured in the 2020 series of Parousia Christian Poetry Chapbook published by Parousia Magazine/My book, "Poems of Inspiration and Hope," represents my best effort to express my feelings of spiritual longing in a world that seems to grow more uncertain by the day. In order to accomplish this, I've created this chapbook of inspirational poems that offers substantive hope and some possible ideas for spiritual growth. Since life is often difficult to understand, the poems also help provide a sense of purpose and consolation. This allows the reader to develop courage that can foster feelings of reassurance and of self-confidence. Since most of my poems could be called meditative poems, they also have a feeling of tranquility that can sometimes be experienced by the reader.For example, in the poem, "Every Trial is Grace," the main idea centers on how suffering and trials can promote spiritual development. This, in turn, can lead to a closer and more mature relationship with God. In order to underscore this concept and as well as the ideas in other poems in the book, each poem offers corresponding Biblical passages that explain a deeper, more profound understanding of the themes in each one. "In every trial is Grace," St. Peter describes suffering as transitory, and it is grace because trials lead us ever closer to God. "And the God of all grace, who called you to his external glory in Christ, after you have suffered, a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong and steadfast." (1 Peter 5:10). In this passage, trials are seen as grace because they lead to divine love. This is not to suggest, of course, that having spiritual courage during a time of trial is a simple task.Another example of the poems that are meant to reassure is called, "Love Will Find a Way." This verse asserts that when there is no way forward; God will make a way for us. The Biblical passage I included to reinforce and expand on the unstoppable will of God is in Proverbs. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledges him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6). This helps point out directly that God's providence can always find the best path even when we can't.A final illustration of a poem in the book that discusses a difficult topic focuses on the concept of death. The poem "When Finally I Wake in Heaven," does not acknowledge death as the final defeat. Instead the poem expresses death as the gateway to love, peace, and acceptance. The Biblical verse that simultaneously expresses the truth about death but also offers an affirmation about the mystery beyond death is St. Paul. "No eyes have seen, no ears heard, nor has man conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9). Clearly, misery in life is transformed into bliss so in death children of God prevail. Finally, my poems originally were a kind of spiritual and creative exercise that gave me a sense of peace. But in time, these poems became a way to help others, even as the verses continue to offer me a measure of serenity. I hope the reader enjoys and finds solace in the poems. John Zurn
