It’s good to start with art. In this case, the Spiral Jetty earthworks by Robert Smithson, which I tried in vain to see from the airplane window as we flew into, and out of, Salt Lake City last month. It can be seen from space as a white swirl in the pink lake. It started out black in the 70’s, accumulated enough salt to turn white, and now appears to be somewhat black again. It is always the same, and always changing. It is buried by water, or exposed by drought. Here’s a picture from someone called blurb:

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It’s also good to start with prayer. Thus, the lyrics to Leonard Cohen’s “If it be Your Will,” followed by a YouTube link to art/folk singer Antony’s performance of the song from the just-ok documentary I’m Your Man. It’s the prayingest non-church singing I’ve encountered in a long time, especially beginning around minute two and a half.

If it Be Your Will

If it be your will
That I speak no more
And my voice be still
As it was before
I will speak no more
I shall abide until
I am spoken for
If it be your will

If it be your will
That a voice be true
From this broken hill
I will sing to you
From this broken hill
All your praises they shall ring
If it be your will
To let me sing

If it be your will
If there is a choice
Let the rivers fill
Let the hills rejoice
Let your mercy spill
On all these burning hearts in hell
If it be your will
To make us well

And draw us near
And bind us tight
All your children here
In their rags of light
In our rags of light
All dressed to kill
And end this night
If it be your will

If it be your will.

Antony sings “If it Be Your Will.”