letthemysterybe

Let the mystery be

by Bob on March 25, 2007

Some things are best left alone. And trusted, believed in, loved, despised, and the like. But these are best left alone. And old saying says "let sleeping dogs lie". Another one says "leave well enough alone".

One is inspired and reminded of this concept in the brilliant 1992 song "Let the Mystery Be" by the American singer/songwriter Iris Dement, on her ("Infamous Angel" album) who does folk/country/gospel music. It's a wonderful song. It basically says that getting into researching and trying to figure out something too deeply, which we must otherwise take on faith, is not a good thing, and we should just let the mystery be. Especially for our own sake.

That's important advice.

In an age of huge databases of knowledge and instant online access to facts, pseudo-facts, falsities posing as facts, and gibber, we are well advised to just let some important things be. Defining Faith or what happens after death, and other seeming imponderables.

From the song a snippet of wisdom setting the tone of the message:

* * *

Everybody's wonderin what and they they all came from

everybody's worryin' 'bout where they're gonna go

when the whole thing's done

but no one knows for certain

and so it's all the same to me

I think I'll just let the mystery be

* * *

Ms. Dement has seen outside the box we call the universe and has reported back.

We should cool it in trying to figure out everything,

Maybe even healing works that way. Even healing the universe, as in Tikkun, specifically, tikkun olam, repairing the world.

And the Beatles did say in their song "Let It Be" -- "Whisper words of wisdom / Let it be". Yes, indeed.

And the odd bit is that I first heard "Let the Mystery Be" by Iris Dement on BBC Radio 4, in the brilliant programme, "Something Understood".

So, here's what Iris did, in a picture worth a thousand words, from a 16th century anonymous woodcut, wherein one sticks one's head out through the universe into sublimity and wisdom, in another dimension, and is really outside the everyday box. We really must remember we can actually do that. And that the pump doesn't work because the vandals stole the handle as Bob Dylan sang.

* * *

Postscript:

Now for all of Iris Dement's brilliant 1992 song.

LET THE MYSTERY BE (Iris DeMent)

Everybody's wonderin' what and where they they all came from

everybody's worryin' 'bout where they're gonna go

when the whole thing's done

but no one knows for certain

and so it's all the same to me

I think I'll just let the mystery be

Some say once you're gone you're gone forever

and some say you're gonna come back

Some say you rest in the arms of the Saviour

if in sinful ways you lack

Some say that they're comin' back in a garden

bunch of carrots and little sweet peas

I think I'll just let the mystery be

Everybody's wonderin' what and where they they all came from

everybody's worryin' 'bout where they're gonna go

when the whole thing's done

but no one knows for certain

and so it's all the same to me

I think I'll just let the mystery be

Some say they're goin' to a place called Glory

and I ain't saying it ain't a fact

but I've heard that I'm on the road to purgatory

and I don't like the sound of that

I believe in love and I live my life accordingly

but I choose to let the mystery be

Everybody is wondering what and where they they all came from

everybody is worryin' 'bout where they're gonna go

when the whole thing's done

but no one knows for certain

and so it's all the same to me

I think I'll just let the mystery be