Noticings – July, 14 2021

I am very tired. I’ve been ready for a holiday for quite some time and starting this Sunday, right after church, I get one. Hallelujah! To prepare for my absence I had a long checklist of tasks to do – finding worship leaders, writing out tech instructions, arranging for song leaders, and creating 4 weeks’ worth of Noticings for the time I’m off. Well, with all that swirling there wasn’t very much left in the tank for noticing this week – except that I’m tired (but I think I mentioned that already). So I decided to let someone else do some noticing this week.

Last Sunday in my sermon I quoted from two modern prophets. Based on the feedback I received (which was more than most weeks) it seemed to have struck a chord. I thought you might like to read the entire lyric for Leonard Cohen’s hauntingly beautiful song “Anthem”. I couldn’t include the whole thing in my sermon, but it is worth taking the time to engage it in its entirety. Blessings as you ponder the cracks…

The birds they sing, at the break of day
Start again, I heard them say.
Don’t dwell on what has passed away
Or what is yet to be.

Yes, the wars, they will be fought again
The holy dove she will be caught again
Bought, and soul, and bought again
The dove is never free.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.

We asked for signs. The signs were sent
The birth betrayed. The marriage spent
Yeah, the widowhood of every government
Signs for all to see.

I can’t run no more, with that lawless crowd
While the killers in high places say their prayers out loud
But they’ve summoned, they’ve summoned up a thundercloud
They’re going to hear from me.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.

You can add up the parts; you won’t have the sum
You can strike up the march, there is no drum
Every heart, every heart to love will come
But like a refugee.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.

Click here to listen – Leonard Cohen, “Anthem” (1992)