Biography:
Talbot was born into a Methodist family with a musical background in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and started learning to play the guitar at an early age. At age 15 he dropped out of school and was performing as a guitarist for Mason Proffit, a country folk-rock band formed with his older brother Terry.
Talbot embarked on a spiritual journey that led him through Native American religion and Buddhism to Christianity. At this point he and his brother, Terry, joined the Jesus Movement, recording the album Reborn which was re-released by Sparrow Records (originally released as The Talbot Brothers on the Warner Brothers label).
Two solo albums followed for Talbot: John Michael Talbot (1976) and The New Earth (1977). Both of these were produced by Billy Ray Hearn.
Reading the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, he was inspired to begin studying at a Franciscan center in Indianapolis. He became a Roman Catholic and joined the Secular Franciscan Order in 1978. He started a house of prayer, The Little Portion.
Talbot moved The Little Portion to Eureka Springs, Arkansas on land he had purchased during his Mason Proffit days. He founded his own community, the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, at Little Portion Hermitage as an "integrated monastic community" with celibate brothers and sisters, singles, and families. By 1989, Talbot had married Viola Pratka (with the permission of the Catholic Church). Pratka was a former Incarnate Word Sister who had come to the community in 1986.
Per the community's General Constitutions, Talbot's title is "General Minister and Spiritual Father". For many years, he has promoted the work of Mercy Corps.
The hermitage suffered a fire in April 2008 in which the chapel, library and many common areas were destroyed.
On April 10, 2010 the Bishop of Little Rock, Anthony Taylor, dedicated the new buildings. On October 2, 2010 the Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage celebrated the opening of the new monastery church and common center.
Eternal Light
John Michael Talbot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yet mankind has chosen darkness
If we openly confess
We need his light
We need his love
Light has created all the world
Yet the world did not receive him
If we walk within the light
He is the light
Though we have sinned we'll stand forgiven
Bridge: (a complex polyphony containing these phrases)
The Lord our God is One
The Lord our God is One
The Lord is watching from on high
He is watching from on high
The Lord is One
So let us come as little children
To turn from the sins of prideful men
So let us come with hearts of sorrow
So we may know his joy again
To be with him now as little children
(Be with him now as little children)
So when he reveals himself again
(He will come again)
We shall not stand within the darkness
(We are not children of darkness)
So walk in his light until the end
We need his light
We need his love
We need to stand forgiven
The lyrics of John Michael Talbot's song Eternal Light offer a thoughtful reflection on the dichotomy of light and darkness. The song recognizes that despite the vastness of the universe, mankind chose darkness over the light that was given to us. The song's first stanza serves as a reminder of the importance of admitting our wrongdoing and failure to embrace the eternal light. It tells us that we need God's light and love in our life. The second stanza highlights the irony of the universe's creation, that it was created by light but the world did not accept the light. However, if we walk in the light like Jesus did, we will find the light we need. The refrain, "He is the light," emphasizes Jesus' role in saving us from sin.
The song then introduces a bridge that showcases a complex polyphony. The refrain, "The Lord our God is One," is used to help the listeners recall their basic Christian beliefs. The song acknowledges that God is always watching over us and is One. It urges us to approach God with the humility of little children so that we may turn away from the sin of prideful men. The song wants us to return with sorrow for our sins so that we may find joy in God again.
Overall, Eternal Light is a beautiful and deep song that contemplates the meaning of light and darkness in our lives. It stresses the importance of acknowledging our mistakes and turning our hearts back to God to find true joy and forgiveness.
Line by Line Meaning
Eternal Light has come among mankind
The presence of an everlasting luminosity is on Earth
Yet mankind has chosen darkness
However, humanity selected obscurity and ignorance over the radiance
If we openly confess
Assuming we acknowledge the truth,
We need his light
We lack illumination without his presence
We need his love
We require his compassion
Light has created all the world
The radiance formed our universe
Yet the world did not receive him
Despite this fact, the world did not acknowledge it
If we walk within the light
If we step towards the brightness
As He is the Light
Equal to him being the source of light
He is the light
He is the radiant one
Though we have sinned we'll stand forgiven
Although we transgressed, he will pardon us
The Lord our God is One
The master of the universe is the only one
The Lord is watching from on high
The Almighty is observing from above
He is watching from on high
He looks down from the peak
The Lord is One
There is only one God
So let us come as little children
Therefore, allow us to approach as innocent kids
To turn from the sins of prideful men
Turning our backs on the vanity of humanity
So let us come with hearts of sorrow
And let us approach with gloomy souls
So we may know his joy again
For us to experience his happiness once again
To be with him now as little children
Currently, we seek to be with him as innocent kids
(Be with him now as little children)
(Being with him as innocent kids now)
So when he reveals himself again
Thus, when he appears again
(He will come again)
(He will return)
We shall not stand within the darkness
We will not remain in the darkness anymore
(We are not children of darkness)
(Because we are not blind to the truth)
So walk in his light until the end
Therefore, continue walking towards the light to the end
We need his light
We need his radiance
We need his love
We need his compassion
We need to stand forgiven
We need his blessings to stand upright
Contributed by Sydney K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.