In Review: Through the Valley

by Mathew Block

Rev. Kurt Reinhardt’s latest book of poetry, Through the Valley, brings a word of comfort to those facing sorrow and suffering, as well as those accompanying others travelling through the valley of the shadow of death.

As with his earlier collections of poetry, Rev. Reinhardt points us again and again to Christ and His mercy, teaching us to place our hope in Him alone. These poems, all metrical and composed with an eye to be sung, do not downplay the reality of grief which surrounds death; but they place it in its proper perspective, teaching us to trust in the One who has already faced death and conquered it for us.

In this book, Rev. Reinhardt encourages us to look to Christ, and to recognize that the crucified and risen One comes to us with mercy and love. He reminds us that we are already borne up in the wounded hands of Christ, and that He will bear us safely home to Himself.

“For nothing can snatch me away;

With Jesus I will ever stay.

He’ll take me in His nail-scarred hand

And bear me to His Father’s land.”

That image of the wounded hands of Christ leading us on is one that reoccurs throughout this collection of poetry, and draws out attention always to Christ crucified and risen for us. We look to Him who has gone before us through the valley of the shadow of death, and who embraces us with “hands still printed by the nails.”

“I have no strength to rise and stand

I don’t know what to say or do;

Lord, hold me in Your wounded hand

And fix my weeping eyes on You.”

The knowledge that Christ has first taken hold of us in love gives us confidence to likewise take hold of Him in faith. “To Christ I’ll cling with all my heart,” Rev. Reinhardt writes, “as He holds on to me.”

These poems, all metrical and composed with an eye to be sung, do not downplay the reality of grief which surrounds death; but they place it in its proper perspective, teaching us to trust in the One who has already faced death and conquered it for us.

All Christians will benefit from this collection of poems (which are accompanied by photographs by Rev. Reinhardt, Rev. Dr. Thomas Winger, and Rev. William Weedon, as well as icons by H. Avery Prozenko), whether they currently are walking the depths of the valley or whether that journey still lies for them in the distant future. Along the way, they will come to learn, as Rev. Reinhardt writes in his preface to the book, that, “No matter how dark it may get in the valley of the shadow of death, your Good Shepherd is with you and leading you through it to the joys of His eternal resurrection day.”

Through the Valley was published by Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (St. Catharines, Ontario) and is available for purchase through Lulu.com.

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Mathew Block is editor of The Canadian Lutheran and communications manager for the International Lutheran Council.

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