The Poetic Word as a Healing Force for a Turbulent World
Rev. Dr. Timothy E. Saleska,
Rev. Dr. Travis Scholl, and
Dr. Abram Van Engen will each give a brief presentation followed by dialogue.
Presentation Summary
The upcoming presentation, The Poetic Word as a Healing Force for a Turbulent World, explores how engaging with poetry can deepen personal reflection, foster community, and enrich spiritual practice. Through three distinct 15-minute segments, the speakers will demonstrate how to transform the reading of ancient psalms into dynamic, life-changing conversations, how the creative power of poetic verse mirrors the divine act of creation itself, and how poetry serves as an "art of attention" that naturally aligns with Christian liturgy and scripture. By breaking down the intimidation surrounding the medium, this presentation aims to show how walking the lines of poetry can attune our hearts to the world, inspire meaningful connection with others, and cultivate a deeper devotion to God.
There is no cost to attend, but please let us know that you’re planning on coming.
About the Presentations and Presenters
Rev. Dr. Timothy E. Saleska
Presentation: You Too Can Have Fun Reading a Psalm!
I believe that with patience and a little practice, reading a psalm can be as delightful as having a conversation with another person. And I think that an encounter with these poems can even be life-changing. In my brief presentation, we will look at a couple of lines from a psalm or two. I want to show you how I start a conversation with these other voices in order to get to know them better, to learn how they see the world, and to reflect on how my beliefs connect with theirs (or not). My goal is that after our discussion, you will feel encouraged to read psalms more often and especially to enter into your own conversations with other people about what these beautiful texts are giving you.
About Rev. Dr. Timothy E. Saleska
Rev. Dr. Timothy E. Saleska is the Gustav and Sophie Butterbach Professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary. He is also the assistant basketball coach for the Concordia Preachers.
Tim received his Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary in 1982. He holds an associate degree from St. John’s College, Winfield, Kan. (1976); a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Mich. (1978); and a Master of Philosophy and Ph.D. from Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati (1991, 1999).
In addition to many articles and publications, Tim is the author of Psalms 1-50 for the Concordia Commentary Series.
Tim and his wife, Diane, who teaches nursing at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL), have three children, two sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law, seven grandchildren.
Tim also has other interests. These include--but are not limited to--reading and talking about books, hiking, fishing, biking, basketball, baseball, working out, the St. Louis Cardinals, swimming, watching movies, full bodied red wine (especially Malbecs and Petite-Syrahs), whole, plain Greek yogurt, and decent-tasting coffee. (He is a big coffee snob-shamelessly so).
Rev. Dr. Travis Scholl
Presentation: How Words Make Worlds
The Harlem Renaissance writer James Weldon Johnson once wrote a poem called “The Creation” that begins like this:
And God stepped out on space,
And he looked around and said:
I'm lonely—
I'll make me a world.
We may not have known it when our English teacher made us read Shakespeare in high school, but the power of a poem lies in how it can make a whole new world of meaning for us. The beauty of it is that we can experience how the poem is doing it, line by line. In this way, as a person of faith, I believe a poem can actually give us a glimpse into the life of the Creator who speaks all life into being through, yes, the words of a poem.
About Rev. Dr. Travis School
Travis Scholl is the Corporate Director of Mission Integration at EverTrue, where he manages a team of 21 chaplains. A widely published essayist and poet, he is the author of Walking the Labyrinth and has led the summer Faith & Writing Workshop at Concordia Seminary for over 15 years.
Abram Van Engen
Presentation: The Gift of Attention
Poetry is the art of attention. It attunes us to the world, and in doing so, it helps tune our hearts to God. Yet poetry can seem daunting. Most people pass it by. The invitation to its arts of attention feels intimidating rather than welcoming. Many think poetry is for others, not them. In the church, such a feeling is common; but churchgoers actually have an advantage over others when it comes to poetry, for poetry forms an essential part of Christian scripture and liturgy. Learning to walk the lines of poetry can build on what we already do as practicing Christians, and taking up the invitation of poetry beyond the borders of the church can enrich our delights and deepen our devotion within it. This brief presentation gives a peak into how we take up poetry, and how poetry can help form us in the arts of attention.
About Abram Van Engen
Abram Van Engen is the Stanley Elkin Professor in the Humanities and Director of the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University in St. Louis. He is the author of several books, including Word Made Fresh: An Invitation to Poetry for the Church (Eerdmans 2024), which was named the 2024 Best Book in Poetry, Culture, and the Arts by Christianity Today. He is also the co-host of an award-winning and popular podcast called Poetry For All.