Nick Leforce

The Gospel of Radiance Nick Leforce

Despite the title, this is not a religious text. It is not a declaration of truth. It is a book of poetry. For whatever reason, the imagery and iconography of religious symbolism and spiritual metaphor often inspire me. I have always felt a strong sense of the numinous, that everything is alive and imbued with spirit. We are each granted a divine spark, a light that it ours to shine. The Gospel of Radiance is the story of returning to that light, of finding the courage and desire to shine despite the challenges of life and the condemnation of others. It is what we were made to do. Even the smallest stars shine as brightly as they can without concern for how their light compares to others and even if their glow is absorbed in the radiance of greater stars. Look at our own sun, beaming out in all directions, far from grand in size and scope and residing on the outskirts of the Milky Way, surrounded by billions of bigger, brighter brethren. Yet it has produced this earthly gem and us too, who have the power to appreciate it. We do not know what our light might give rise to and that is why we must shine as brightly as we can.