Induction of LC as Priest & husband

General discussion about Leonard Cohen's songs and albums
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charlajoy
Posts: 57
Joined: Wed May 27, 2009 2:03 am

Induction of LC as Priest & husband

Post by charlajoy »

Leonard can be quoted somewhere that he as a young man wanted to shed light, that he wished to do the great thing for people, to be their servant, and that he had failed in this, but I am here to tell you the truth, that “unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed, but if it dies it produces many seeds (John 12:24).” Leonard has died a thousand deaths of the soul in his spiritual sojourn on earth, but in the creating and publishing of his poems, he has in a sense been resurrected from the dead, causing the seed of life to spring up in me unlike any other voice has been able to work its effects. He has been the voice in the desert, the deep that calls unto deep, the cryer that bears the shaft of truth. His work has illumined my closet when all I could do was appeal to the Lord for mercy because I didn’t know what words to use in my prayers, and then came Leonard.

Perhaps this is a word-portrait of his sojourn: Ps. 119:25-32 reads, “I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word, I recounted my ways and you answered me, teach me your decrees. Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders. My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through your law. I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws. I hold fast to your statutes, o Lord; do not let me be put to shame. I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” Leonard shows us this way he has come when we listen with our hearts wide open.

Leonard said elsewhere, I believe in one of his psalms in BoM, that he wanted the strength of ten? men to lift him in prayer. I am one woman, and I can lift comparable to the sum of many men. I lift him whenever he comes to visit me—that is, the times that I see his face and eyes, like a 30-year old, peering at me like a wounded soldier, wondering what is happening to him that is so strange--, and I hear him visit me with songs in the night or they waken me in the morning. And I pray for his strength to not go, that he will be able to continue singing until he is done. I love this man, for he has poured out his song and his life for the other wounded. He has cast the light of his glory onto the ones who have been in the dark.

You’ve heard of this word: “The man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.” Leonard is one man who has entered the door to truth by the way of hard work. He is no thief and robber. He is a real shepherd, and we recognize this beauty of sacrifice, this work that he has entered into for us.

For Leonard from me: You did not come to steal or kill or destroy
You came to give life
through your broken flesh that you laid down
for me to find the way.
Your truth staved off the wolf come to eat my soul.
You led me out;
I followed you ‘cause you knew my name.
I heard you call me with your voice.

see also John 10:1-5 for reference

Leonard’s words and person are emblazoned upon my heart. He has done the work for me, and I am the recipient of his husbandry. This is what it means to be your brother’s keeper. I thank the Lord for Leonard and pray for the angels of God to protect and nourish and fortify him daily, especially during his pounding concert schedule. How can a man do this without the prayers of faith from the secret congregation?

P.S. Pardon my serious remarks, but this man has lit a fire within me, and I never even knew he was on the face of this earth until about 2 months ago when my 21 year old son gave me “Hallelujah” and I’ve been hooked ever since. Can’t stop reading or listening Cohen. Besides, he gave me courage to fall in love with my boyfriend, 14 years my senior!
lazariuk
Posts: 1952
Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2005 5:38 am
Location: Vancouver

Re: Induction of LC as Priest & husband

Post by lazariuk »

charlajoy wrote:Leonard can be quoted somewhere that he as a young man wanted to shed light, that he wished to do the great thing for people, to be their servant, and that he had failed in this
I took the whole thing seriously. I was this little kid and whatever they told me in these matters resonated, and I wanted to be that figure who sang, "This is the Tree of Life." I tried to become that, and that world seemed open to me, and I was able to become that in my own modest way. I became that little figure to myself. So that was poetry to me, and I think it's available to everybody.
leonard cohen
Everything being said to you is true; Imagine of what it is true.
charlajoy
Posts: 57
Joined: Wed May 27, 2009 2:03 am

Re: Induction of LC as Priest & husband

Post by charlajoy »

Lazariuk from charlajoy:
Dear Lord God(!), Thank you for answering me in this way....this quote being the mirror of LC's little-boy soul. You are so kind to afford me this quote, and if you would be able, I would "insist" that I know where I can read more of this? charlajoy
lazariuk
Posts: 1952
Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2005 5:38 am
Location: Vancouver

Re: Induction of LC as Priest & husband

Post by lazariuk »

charlajoy wrote:Lazariuk from charlajoy:
Dear Lord God(!), Thank you for answering me in this way....this quote being the mirror of LC's little-boy soul. You are so kind to afford me this quote, and if you would be able, I would "insist" that I know where I can read more of this? charlajoy
http://www.webheights.net/speakingcohen/jewish.htm
Everything being said to you is true; Imagine of what it is true.
charlajoy
Posts: 57
Joined: Wed May 27, 2009 2:03 am

Re: Induction of LC as Priest & husband

Post by charlajoy »

To Lazariuk,
How rich and satisfying! My blessing to you for your sharing this with me. I am better off because of this reading, as it's helping me gain my balance, my foothold in a world of both the spiritual and the insane. I am still caught in the updraft of having found Cohen, and I don't know if that will ever cease, so I will say to you that I am touched with your care, taking your time, to pass this on to me. charlajoy
charlajoy
Posts: 57
Joined: Wed May 27, 2009 2:03 am

Re: Induction of LC as Priest & husband

Post by charlajoy »

In my reading from Leonard Cohen: Prophet of the Heart, p. 187, Judy Collins is reported as saying of Leonard,
"His songs carried me through the dark years like mantras or stonse that ou hold in your hand while the sun rises or the fire burns. They kept me centred as I stood in front of thousands of people, my eyes closed, my hands round the neck of a guitar, my voice singing to his ethereal lyrics...The songs were like water to a person dying of thirst. They were songs for the spirit when our spirits were strained to the breaking point."

When I began reading and listening to Leonard Cohen this April, I had no idea that the name Cohen means Priest. It can be researched online.
COHEN Surname Meaning & Origin:
The Cohen surname, common among Eastern European Jews, often indicates a family claiming descent from Aaron, brother of Moses and the first high priest, from the Hebrew kohen or kohein, meaning priest. The German surname KAPLAN is related, deriving from "chaplain" in German.

From the beginning of my experience, it became apparent to me that Leonard was standing as an intermediary, a priest as it were, bringing great buckets of love and kindness to wash my soul, my consciousness. He was the answer to my prayer. One of the functions of the priest is to act on behalf of the person who has difficulty coming into the Holy of Holies. I appreciate Leonard Cohen's sacrifice--and yet I see that in his sacrifice he also gained a higher self--so he is an inspiration to me to live accurately, with conviction of who I am.
ananta
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Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2010 8:28 am

Re: Induction of LC as Priest & husband

Post by ananta »

Can a wife and husband each own separate properties and each claim as primary residence? I bought a house when I was single and we are living in it. We would like to buy another house and if mine does not sell, we will rent it. To avoid losing the homestead credit on the first house, can my husband, on his own, buy another house separate from my name and we both claim as primary residences?
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