Many of us are weeping over the death of Leonard Cohen. The silence welcomes us all into the banquet hall prepared for us. Let us not hurry from the feast but take time to taste each salty morsel, for there is sweetness in this last farewell.

His elegant body is bearing witness to human frailty and in respect for this frailty, our tears are shed. We remember his form so fondly.

Like you, I cannot stop the grief nor do I wish to do so. For out of it will come a surrender to light so profound it will encourage heaven to give us a glimpse of it.

Let us gather at this mighty river of light and share our sorrows for they are holy and meaningful. Let no one take that from you. We love because we are love itself.

I write words every day and these are no different than any of the rest. It is what lies beyond the words that always matters the most. We do not remember Leonard’s words so much as we honor his unfailingly honest surrender to the unknown. It is in the unknown that we find love to be the sweetest.

Vicki Woodyard