Mark Katrick faith column: Gordon Lightfoot connects with hearts, souls of devoted fans

Tis the season for many and varied holiday concerts.

Being a lover of music, particularly folk and folk-rock, I’ve been blessed to attend performances by these noted artists of that genre (in alphabetical order): Harry Chapin (twice), Judy Collins, Neil Diamond, Arlo Guthrie (right here at the Midland Theatre), Peter Paul and Mary (had front row seats at the Front Row Theatre in Cleveland) and Paul Simon.

One folk singer of note that I couldn’t catch up with was Gordon Lightfoot, who died last year at the age of 84. I play a favorite “carol” of his at Christmas, “Song for a Winter’s Night.” Every year, I’d get online and try to find a venue at the right time and place (within reasonable driving distance). But it never worked out.

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As a spiritual guide, I’ve always related to the many ways this balladeer and storyteller was able to connect with the hearts and souls of his devoted fans. One of these is Terry Pluto, a noted author, columnist and sports reporter.

Pluto has always been a role model for me as a sports writer and religion columnist. In a column he wrote for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, he reached down into his heart and soul to share these thoughts and feelings:

“If Gordon Lightfoot could read my mind, he’d know that he was part of the soundtrack of my youth. … He’d know that as I’m writing this, there are a few tears in my eyes.

“I’m not the sentimental type, but there’s something about Lightfoot’s gentle voice, his soothing and picturesque lyrics. If you close your eyes and listen to his music, it can take you back. … Maybe it’s remembering a time that was simpler.”

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“If I could read your mind, what a tale your thoughts could tell/ Just like a paperback novel, the kind the drugstore sells/ When you reach the part where the heartaches come, the hero would be me, but heroes often fail/ And you won’t read that book again because the ending’s just too hard to take.”

Like Pluto, Lightfoot influenced me by “not putting his intellect on display. He told stories with sharp images and simple sentences.”

In a nutshell, that is the whole point of spiritual growth; sitting in a sacred space, closing your eyes, listening for that soothing Divine voice who can read the soundtrack of our minds and respond with sharp images and simple sentences. Then, breaking the silence with a song by an artist that is deeply meaningful to you.

This is especially true of our yesterdays. When the hero in you and me fails; when unhappy endings are too hard to take; the Christ within and his saving grace takes over, writing us brand new beginnings with bright and hope-filled tomorrows.

Mark Katrick is a pastor and spiritual guide.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Mark Katrick faith column: Gordon Lightfoot connects with hearts, souls