Thomas Merton, the articulate 20th C monk, compared writing “about” spirituality, to an artist writing “about” art. Sort of redundant, and yet, some have that teacherly calling to do so.
Some like making their spiritual growth, overheard, for the benefit of others! It’s like swimming, and at the same time writing about water! That’s a unique calling. But some did it well.
Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, CS Lewis, and others take us into the part of God they are writing about or rather from! Their symbols participate in the Reality to which they point, as Paul Tillich put it! Their words participate in and invite us into, that to which they point us, and we find ourselves bathing in the waters which they found! This is where art and spirituality replicate one another, and become useful for all of us!