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January 29, 2007Hallelujah…Humanity brought forth in a perfect blending of old and new… I’m back from a trip that was in some ways thrilling and in other ways both enlightening and troubling, mostly because even when we “know” who we are, we sometimes do not, if we are honest. And that makes sense. A living thing is not static - there is always growth, change, forward movement, and with all of that must come introspection, adjustment, a re-introduction to that most familiar and yet most distant star which is one’s own soul and nature. We “know” ourselves, but never for long, or fully. We know each other even less. Sometimes we are simply and utterly fools who - even if we have determined regret to be a tiresome and useless weight - find we must accept it, still. Lift it up and bear it and carry it forward until the road has turned and lessons have been well-learned, and mistakes do not get repeated. Then we put down the burden of regret just in time to make new mistakes to carry along the next path. And for all that we presume to know of God…well, he knows us, and loves us anyway, and bless Him, for that. No, I have no intention of telling you what that’s all about. It’s mostly good - nothing is wrong - but yeah, regret is a cruel bastard of a teacher, and I have been an unmindful student. I’m back, but there are errands to run, mountains of snail mail to read and process, even more email…and lots to think and pray on. I apologize in advance for the fact that I may never get to all of these emails. But I’ll try. Meanwhile…Leonard Cohen’s unforgettable “Hallelujah,” rendered more brilliant by yet another admirably musical Welshman (what is it about Wales?) John Cale: I’ve heard there was a secret chord Hallelujah Your faith was strong, but you needed proof http://theanchoressonline.com/2007/01/29/hallelujah/trackback/ 11 Responses to “Hallelujah…” |
January 29th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
even when we “know” who we are, we sometimes do not, if we are honest.
Indeed.
January 29th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
I LOVE that song. “I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch, but love is not a victory march, it’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah.”
January 29th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Scrubs, with all its silliness, hits on essential truths quite often does it not?
January 29th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
I’ve also heard excellent covers of Hallelujah by kd lang and Jeff Buckley. However, I’ve always found it odd that none of the covers I’ve heard use Cohen’s final verse:
I did my best, it wasn’t much
I couldn’t feel, so I tried to touch
I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I’ll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah
Incidentally, while I’m not particularly a big fan of kd lang, her version played on a good stereo system with the volume cranked up will make your hair stand on end.
January 29th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Funny….I’ve had that very same song in my head for the last couple of days.
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Hubby was sick, but better now. Best friend’s daugther died suddenly; we are buried with them in their grief.
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Yes, it all is a Mystery. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
January 30th, 2007 at 9:45 am
We can only try, dear Anchoress, to be our best selves. And I think (I could be wrong - frequently am) that God is most pleased when He knows that we are MAKING the effort. Succeeding isn’t what He’s after necessarily - it’s the effort that gives us grace.
At least that’s my take on it.
As to Welshmen - they do seem to produce some rather spectacular talents, don’t they?
Obis Sister - my love and prayers are with you.
January 30th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Grace and peace, dear Anchoress. I’d never heard that song before. WOW!!! How unbelievably beautiful and moving. Thank you, thank you!! I’m sure there will be a time when this Hallelujah will be a real comfort and support for me.
January 31st, 2007 at 9:36 am
Hey, it’s Mrs. Landingham! Please will someone tell me what show this is from, and whether Aaron Sorkin is associated with it? To my mind, Sorkin created some of the most memorable, most heart-wrenching, most uplifting scenes in televsion, with nothing more(!) than a great script, wonderful actors, and achingly beautiful music.
Whatever it is, whoever wrote it, thank you for sharing this.
January 31st, 2007 at 10:15 am
very nice…
scrubs is a pleasant program, and Mr. Cale is excellent.
thank you.
March 14th, 2007 at 4:15 am
Halleluyah, It’s Leonard Cohen:
Neo-neocon is a born-again fan and takes a YouTube tour of the great Canadian poet/composer, and it was all inspired by The Anchoress….
March 14th, 2007 at 9:48 am
[...] while back, I linked to a bit of video from an episode of Scrubs, and also of John Cale singing Leonard Cohen’s [...]