It’s been awhile since I’ve blogged here but I keep hearing “heart” inspired things, especially in the music I listen to. Waiting this long to write does make for long blog but such is me. I have long appreciated Bruce Cockburn as he sings from his heart, head and body as an artist and prophet. He has a way of including polysyllable words in his songs that capture my imagination in ways that few songwriters do. How can you not be captivated, mind and heart by a line like “Heaven’s perfect alchemy, put me with you and you with me. Come on — put that in your heart”  from PUT IT IN YOUR HEART on his 2002 CD — YOU’VE NEVER SEEN EVERYTHING.

In this album Cockburn, like the Psalmist, sings about the horrors of this world- “the ribbon of shadow” and his faith in the “light falling all around” (quotes from title track, YOU’VE NEVER SEEN EVERYTHING). The YouTube video I’ve included is from BRAVOs Rehearsal Hall program and includes song #8 WAIT NO MORE – which includes the great line “The heart is a mirror, it throws back the blaze of love”.

I included WAIT NO MORE because it echoes my impatience with the mess we’re in, that I contribute to. I’m not really suicidal but do get tired of waiting for the next stage of existence where “sipping wine with angels” is more than a great line in a song – although I’m reminded of Merton’s comment “Then it was as if I suddenly saw the secret beauty of their hearts, the depths of their hearts where neither sin nor desire nor self-knowledge can reach, the core of their reality, the person that each one is in the eyes of the Divine. If only they could all see themselves as they really are. If only we could see each other that way all the time. There would be no more war, no more hatred, no more cruelty, no more greed. … I suppose the big problem would be that we would fall down and worship each other.”

My hope is, and I believe that it’s realistic, that before I die and “set sail on that ocean of deep mystery”  Spirit can help me find “What does it take for what’s locked up inside to be free”. The Contemplative way helps me be open to that possibility. I believe I don’t have to be dead before “one day we’ll wake to remember how lovely we are”.

I’ve had graced moments when I get a sense of how God sees me and others and it is pretty lovely and free. As I learn to see the world, myself included, through the eyes of the heart of God, I come closer to seeing and hearing what and who the Creator wants for all this. Despite the horrible shadows out there and in me there is light all around that one can only see or hear with the eyes and ears of the heart. Thanks be to God.

Lyrics for PUT IT IN YOUR HEART

As I stare into the flames / 
filled up with feelings I can’t name / 
Images of life appear –
regret and anger, love and fear / 
Dark things drift across the screen
 / of mine behind whose veil are seen / 
love’s ferocious eyes, and clear
 / the words come flying to my ear

Go on — put it in your heart — Put it in your heart

 / Terrible deeds done in the name / 
of tunnel vision and fear of change / 
surely are expressions of / 
a soul that’s turned its back on love / 
All the sirens all the tongues
 / The song of air in every lung
 / Heaven’s perfect alchemy
 / put me with you and you with me

Come on — put that in your heart / Come on, put it in your heart

 / All the sirens all the tongues
 / The song of air in every lung / 
Heaven’s perfect alchemy
 / Put me with you and you with me

Come on, put it in your heart / Come on, put it in your heart

Lyrics for WAIT NO MORE

Wild things are prowling storm winds are howling tonight/ Everythings transforming into pure crystals of light / The heart is a mirror; it throws back the blaze of love / Bathed in that glow its no secret what Im thinking of / I want to wait no more

Wait no more / Wait no more

Sipping wine with angels in this torch-lit tavern by the sea / What does it take for whats locked up inside to be free? / Fold me into you, you know where Im longing to be / When my ship sets sail on that ocean of deep mystery / I want to wait no more

Wait no more / Wait no more

What does it take for the heart to explode into stars? One day well wake to remember how lovely we are/ Lightnings a kiss that lands hot on the loins of the sky / Something uncoils at the base of my spine and I cry / I want to wait no more

Wait no more / Wait no more