“Ring the bells that still can ring.”
“Forget your perfect offering”
“There is a crack in everything, That’s how the light gets in.”
Watch how some of our Indianapolis friends are letting the light in (full text below).
Rehearse, live Leonard Cohen’s words every day.
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from Comenius (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website). Dr. Eckel spends time with Christian young people in public university (1 minute video), hosts a weekly radio program with diverse groups of guests (1 minute video), and interprets culture from a Christian vantage point (1 minute video). Consider becoming a Comenius patron (here).
Picture Credit: Snappy Goat
FULL TEXT:
Leonard Cohen, a Canadian songwriter, singer, penned an exceptional anthem. Some of the lyrics read
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in
For the past two years we have held our Warp and Woof radio show as a live event on the opening of the latest legislative session at the Indiana State House. We have interviewed pastors, representatives, public figures, Hoosiers from every corner of the state.
And this year I pondered Cohen’s lyrics as I spoke with many. Over and over again I heard the same theme: we have differences but it is our faith that unites us.
Tim Lindsey, city council chaplain, said plainly, “No one has ever told me not to pray for them.”
Pamela Russell, state house chaplain talked about her work with women. The repeated word in our wonderful dialogue was “encouragement,” something everyone needs.
John Crane, an Indiana senator, repeats his personal mantra to constituents and colleagues: he sees his work as a “catalyst for redemptive change.”
And Matt Barnes, whose work as volunteer chaplain began 15 years ago, made the case clear: legislators are people just like the rest of us, who are just as in need of pastoral care.
I think Leonard Cohen would be pleased. Here are Christians who are making a difference for good in their culture through prayer, encouragement, redemption, and care.
Politics can be divisive. Personal agendas can be caustic. Power can corrupt.
Yes, differences divide us. Cohen said it best: There is a crack in everything.
But, it is that last line that leaves room for what I have seen at the Indiana State House. Yes, there is a crack in everything, but, That’s how the light gets in.
For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, President of the Comenius Institute, personally seeking Truth wherever it’s found.
While I have loved the tune of his song ‘Hallelujah’ the lyrics seem to insult me. His song ‘Suzanne’ seems to haunt me when I hear it but again the tune and some of the lyrics…amazing. I was thinking of doing a ‘Free in Three’ on this very theme and your quote from Leonard Cohen is exactly what I was thinking in a poetic nutshell. I found this on Wikipedia from LC on Jesus and I figured you’d also appreciate it,
“I’m very fond of Jesus Christ. He may be the most beautiful guy who walked the face of this earth. Any guy who says ‘Blessed are the poor. Blessed are the meek’ has got to be a figure of unparalleled generosity and insight and madness … A man who declared himself to stand among the thieves, the prostitutes and the homeless. His position cannot be comprehended. It is an inhuman generosity. A generosity that would overthrow the world if it was embraced because nothing would weather that compassion.”