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Nigel writes:

If you got a chance, take it

My dad was 90 a few weeks ago, and my mum was 87 last month. They’ve lived happy and fulfilled lives, but I’m increasingly aware that we are all vulnerable and that they won’t be around forever. I’m trying to speak with them on the phone and see them as much as I can. I don’t want to have regrets about not spending time with them when they are no longer here.

I also want to keep doing the things that bring me life in all its fullness, recognising this is not a free pass to an entirely selfish existence. I’ve still got stories to write about. Music I want to play and listen to. Places I want to visit. Books I want to read. But time – and more often than not, energy – often seems in short supply. Money is not always available to do the things I’d like in these troubled economic times.

I’ve also got struggles I’d love to heal. Relationships I’d love to grow. Unfulfilled dreams I’d like to see become a reality. On top of that I’d love to spend more time and energy campaigning and acting on behalf of refugees, young people and those in need of a bit of help. I’d like to take more political action over the things I’m passionate about to see transformation in our broken world.

However, the pandemic has left a trail of trauma and loss which can sometimes lead to a paralysis of thought and action if I’m not careful. It’s too easy to end up sitting watching TV and doing nothing. I also need to balance my own wants and desires with those of others. All-in-all, life can be a bit of a challenge … and that leads me to the song I’ve been impacted by of late …

It’s a song from American Country artist, Cody Johnson, that talks about taking chances in life rather than waiting until they’re gone for good. The chorus has particularly spoken to me:

If you got a chance, take it,

take it while you got a chance

If you got a dream, chase it,

’cause a dream won’t chase you back

If you’re gonna love somebody

Hold ’em as long and as strong and as close as you can

‘Til you can’t

I’ve always believed that our best dreams come from God and my quest in the coming season is to try and line up what I want, with want God wants. For me, that means better following the advice in the song and taking every chance that comes my way, believing that God opens the doors, orchestrates great possibilities, and offers divine invitations. My part is to be on the lookout for when it’s God, and discerning in how I respond to what comes before me.

I need to do the loving and say the ‘love-you’s’ now. If I find something that needs fixing, I need to fix it now. Where I get things wrong, I hope that I can say the ‘sorries’ now. And even when I’m tired and grumpy – which can be often – I need to take and make the phone calls now, just in case there comes a time when I’m not able to. In the words of the song, I don’t want to kick things ‘further down the road’ and ‘wait on tomorrow’ …

If you got a chance, take it

If you got a dream, chase it

I like this live version of the song best – turn it up loud!

Find out more about Cody Johnson at https://www.codyjohnsonmusic.com/home.

Jane writes:

Turin Brakes are one of my absolute favourite bands. They have a great sound and they are equally good whether channeling their gentle rock style or their fabulous acoustic harmonious selves. They also write a mean lyric. What’s not to love.

You only need to begin to pay attention to the news, or indeed look outside your window at your scorched lawn and thirsty plants, to see the world is struggling with a changing climate. Floods and drought equally destructive to people’s homes and livelihoods. Melting glaciers falling on unsuspecting tourists. No snow where there should be some. Forty shades of green becoming forty shades of brown. No crops leading to the starvation of millions. I could go on.

This song speaks for itself. The wondering about what is ours to do and how many people have to struggle before we pay proper attention. When will it be too late and why aren’t we able to jump right in now.

Soon, it seems, there may be only one person left to notice the end of the world and by then it will be too late for humanity

God was careful enough to be a creator of a world where everyone and everything could flourish. Not simply exist but be the best they could be. I guess the question is when will we wake up and make a difference for the billions with their backs already against the wall and not wait til it gets to us before we act.

Maybe pay extra attention to the news this week. Whenever you see a story linked to the climate make some effort to act for good change now. Small or large. You know it makes sense. You know it will be a part of serving the God you love and loving the planet we live on.

You can find out loads more about Turin Brakes here https://turinbrakes.com/

Please note: there’s some strobe lighting towards the end of the video about 2.45 mins in for around 15 seconds

Gill writes:

Well – if someone had told my teenage self that a-ha would still be making music 37 years later, I would have probably been a bit put out. Why would people be wanting to listen to a band of 60-somethings for goodness sake? I used to be of the opinion that pop bands should retire by the age of 40. I definitely would have been horrified to hear that an 80-year-old Paul McCartney was headlining at Glastonbury! How my mind and attitude have changed since then – thankfully.

a-ha released this song a week ago, and not a day has gone by so far when I haven’t given it a listen. It’s classic a-ha – Morten’s striking voice and a melody that seems so familiar it pulls you in. I suppose it has a touch of ‘Hunting High and Low’ about it. But it’s the lyrics that I gravitate to – for me, it makes the song feel like a great, big hug.

The last year has been full of peaks and troughs personally, and there have been times when taking a breath and pushing myself forward has been a little bit of an effort. ‘This too shall pass’ as Tom Hanks would say; ‘Good times after these’ as a-ha would sing.

Give in
Don’t give up
Breathe
Don’t you stop

Breathe in
Just breathe
There are times
Good times after these

There are some challenges in life that we don’t choose. We have no control over them and what the outcome might be. It’s often at these times when we discover the person or people who say ‘I’m in.’ They choose to rock up and weather the storm with you. They decide that walking alongside you is worth the effort. They realise that they are called to be your emotional crutch for a while. They are bringing love and strength to a time and place when it is truly needed.

Whatever you want or need
Wherever you have to be
Whatever you have to believe
I’m in
Begin

Some people astound me with their capacity to love and to commit to something difficult – to say ‘I’m in.’ The young woman who says ‘Yes, I will marry you’ when her partner has been diagnosed with a terminal illness; the new father who commits to addressing his issues with alcohol; the grandmother who commits to climate change activism in the hope of a better world for her grandchildren; the brother who takes on a daunting fundraising challenge for a charity that supports his sister’s recovery from illness.

Never give up
Never you stop
Don’t let the forces that pull us apart
Think they can win

Just believe
Whatеver they say
Therе is a door to a future unseen
Leading this way

Love is an amazing gift, isn’t it?

What better than to leave you with the words of Magne (the keyboard player), who wrote the song. He says it is

“a song about total commitment and a show of support for someone who is troubled. Real commitment is a leap of faith. Everyone knows how difficult it can be to offer commitment and support unconditionally, but this is what it takes to make anything worthwhile happen – love, friendship, change, self-improvement, careers, a better world. Easier said than done of course but it begins with an attitude, then uttering the words. After this it is all hard work to realize whatever potential your commitment has in the world. Without this attitude everything just gets bogged down with conflicting thoughts, doubts and fear. Just say it: ‘I’m in’.” (https://a-ha.com/news/new-single-im-in-drops-on-8-july)

Find out more about a-ha at http://www.a-ha.com – they have a new album on the way.

What songs are on your playlist this summer?

How about sharing what you’re listening to with us at The Friday Fix?

Ping us your song and why it’s on your playlist to Gill at thomasg@methodistchurch.org.uk.

Marc writes:

I loved 1984. I think it was my first real experience with dystopian literature and worlds. I think there’s something in those things that get written, or filmed, that we go on to consume that make us believe their fantastical and gold for the world we live in, but if they’re really good then there’s something about them that make us just a little bit afraid of what could be…
​
Muse used 1984-style vibes and influences in their 2009 album “The Resistance”, and I loved it.

One thing I’ve always appreciated about them as a band is their ability to make new and different music every album, and so when I first heard “Compliance” I was a little bit disappointed as it felt like I had heard it before, but then I remembered how much I loved “The Resistance” as an album, and it was fine!

But I listened to it and then started listening to “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “The Testaments”, and the combination is scary. I wonder how close we could be in places in the world to dystopian realities rather than fantasies, and how we might be sold them in line with the idea of religion or freedom…

I wonder how many of us would fall foul to a proposed regime that offered us “no pain anymore”, or promises that we “won’t feel lost anymore”? That we won’t be burdened by choice, that we’ll be protected, not rejected, the hurt will be taken away and someone else will give us what’s best for us?

What would we say to the offer of not having to fear anymore, and that we can be saved, and all we need to do is show compliance?

The sad reality is that for years that’s been the party line in Christian rhetoric in many places.

It’s a struggle, but I think we need to show some defiance and resilience and keep going with the pain and the lost-ness, the choice and the fear, and to maintain our freedom rather than choosing the compliance sung about here.

God is about choice and freedom, both “His” and ours, and about the liberation of others too. It’s in choosing that life that we find ourselves being saved.

Find out more about Muse at https://www.muse.mu/news

Lynne writes:

If you’re a fan of musical theatre and cutting-edge feminist comedy*, and if you’re not too easily offended when said comedy is a little too on-the-nose and brutally honest about sex, relationships and feminine hygiene, then I would highly recommend binge-watching Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on Netflix immediately (if you haven’t already discovered its genius that is).

Don’t be put-off by the title, which is deliberately self-aware and aims to deconstruct some of the unhelpful gender narratives that tend to populate romantic comedy. In fact, this isn’t really a show about romance at all, it’s about the lead character Rebecca’s quest to understand who she is and what gives her true happiness. I am so glad I trusted the friend who told me I’d love the show and encouraged me to give it a try. Watching episode one I was undecided… until ‘The Sexy Getting Ready Song’ happened. Its lyrics, both funny and scarily insightful, are all about the effort that women put into making themselves attractive for men (using processes that are often anything but sexy). From then on, I was a die-hard fan of both the show and it’s co-creator and lead star, Rachel Bloom.

However, ‘The Sexy Getting Ready Song’ is not the tune I want to write about in this blog. I’ve chosen ‘I’m a Good Person’ from series one, episode five. Rebecca has been accused (with reason) of being ‘bad people’ and she takes this to heart. She sets out to prove her worth and win approval by flaunting her good deeds in public. She sings:

I’m a good person, that’s my thing

My nickname is Mother Theresa Luther King

I’m a good person, get it straight

And when I say good, I really mean great

The best Hashtag humble and blessed

There were 157 original songs written in total for the show, all of them brilliant and witty and with something to say about the human experience. ‘I’m a Good Person’ is one that plays in my head more often than most, not only because it has a VERY catchy tune but also because I think it offers a challenge to those watching and listening, including me.

1 Corinthians 13: 5 (NRSV) tells us, “If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” Rebecca’s good works aren’t rooted in love. They are rooted in her own lack of self-worth and her need, like the Pharisees, to seek approval from other people (Matthew 23: 5).

The scary thing is, we can all be Rebeccas. Most of us want to be thought of as good people, we can all be guilty of feeling a bit smug when we do something charitable and the temptation to ‘humble brag’ on our social media channels is ever-present. But if the good we do isn’t driven by a love for other people, grounded in our recognition of the innate dignity in all human beings and – as Christians – flowing from our knowledge of God’s love, then is it worth as much? Our ill-founded charity might even, ultimately, harm more than it helps. If we’re not motivated by love then we forget to listen to what our fellow human beings actually need, our good deeds can become acts of aggression.

I feel this translation of Matthew 6: 1 – 4 from The Message, entitled ‘The World Is Not a Stage’, is very appropriate here:

“Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theatre, but the God who made you won’t be applauding.

When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.”

One final thought that brings me much comfort, it’s great to remember that God’s love for us is not determined by how hard we work or how ‘good’ we are – but is rooted in grace. Amen to that!

*And, if you’re not, why not?!

Gill writes:

I very nearly chose a different song this week – ‘Heaven Give Me Words’ by Propaganda (maybe another time) but instead, the pondering of that one led me to this one.

When it comes to Myers-Briggs, I’m an ‘I’ – an introverted thinker. This doesn’t mean that I’m a shy, wallflower-type – there are probably a few who will testify that I’m not, but I am someone who needs space to process thoughts and responses. Yes – even in mid-flow conversation when it looks like I’m well and truly present, I’m probably not because I’m trying to find the words that sum up my thoughts perfectly.

I’m married to someone who is almost the opposite of me, whose thoughts are the very thing that are coming out of his mouth. He used to ask me what I think about something and would be flummoxed when I replied ‘I don’t know’ whilst I grappled for words to fill the void in the conversation. We’ve been together that long now that he’s given up asking me what I think. Now he drops a question and tells me to come back to him when I’ve thought about it.

Retrieving words to express and articulate my very deep thoughts is one of my ‘demons.’ It gets in the way of me being my true self at times. It can make me anxious before I even need to be. It can make me frustrated afterwards. It used to cause worry and distraction. It really is like having a malevolent little so-and-so whispering in your ear.

Demons are supposed to be evil spirits or tormentors. Some may believe that they are literally the foot soldiers of the Devil, others may prefer to think of them as spirits or agents that cause harm and distress. Whatever we settle for personally, it seems that they are found in the deepest and darkest places. We talk about burying our demons, hiding them away, and hoping that they never appear or are found.

Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide

The thing about demons is that we want to protect those we care about from them. We want to protect them from disappointment, mental anguish, lies, manipulation, injustice, hunger, poverty, and discrimination. In effect, from anything that could do them harm

When the days are cold
And the cards all fold
And the saints we see
Are all made of gold
When your dreams all fail
And the ones we hail
Are the worst of all
And the blood’s run stale

I wonder though – the ‘hiding’ thing, the ‘denial’ thing, the ‘pretending it isn’t there’ thing – is that not adding fuel to the fire? Sheltering others and protecting them from immediate harm is one thing; continuing to do so without trying to address the harm is another. That’s when we start to collude. That’s when we’re as much a part of the problem as the more obvious ‘demons.’

The etymology of the word ‘demon’ is an interesting one. It comes from the Greek word ‘daimōn’ which means ‘guiding spirit’ or ‘higher self,’ and in Ancient Greece daimōns were thought to be ethereal beings that just floated around in the air. It’s believed that Socrates had his own personal daimōn who inspired and shed light on his understanding.

And that’s the thing. Inspiration, understanding and bringing things into the light begin to frazzle those demons. Evil only really has power if we allow it to. Speaking up, challenging what we think is wrong, and shining a light on systems, actions and people that are doing harm to others are some of the ways to tackle our collective demons.

Your eyes, they shine so bright
I wanna save that light

Most of all – change. Making a change or being the change – that’s what can wrongfoot a demon. Bring it out into the open and show it you mean business. I still get tongue-tied at times in conversations, meetings, interviews and when I’m delivering workshops. However, I grew my confidence – I made a deliberate change – and now say ‘come back to me on that when I’ve had a think’, or ‘I might need a bit more time to process what I think’ or ‘do you know what, I’m not great at replying on the spot sometimes, bear with…’ That demon is not going to get the better of me and stop me being who I am!

You can find out more about Imagine Dragons at http://www.imaginedragonsmusic.com/. And they are playing live at Milton Keynes, MK Stadium this Sunday 18th June!!

Claire writes:

I recently watched the musical ‘Dear Evan Hansen.’ It really brought home to me how we don’t know what people are going through in their lives, or how their mental health can cause such feelings of despair and have so little self-worth.

‘Dear Evan Hansen’ tells the story of a young man with social anxiety disorder who longs to make a connection with those in his classes and to fit in. He fabricates a relationship with a deceased student to become closer to the boy’s family after their son takes his own life. Shy Evan Hansen finds himself at the centre of the tragedy and turmoil. Evan tries to comfort the family by pretending to be friends with the deceased. Evan pretends that he was good friends with their son.

We have all learned from the last couple of years that we need – we crave – human contact and unfortunately this has resulted in more young people (and across the generations) having feelings of loneliness and who are struggling with mental illness and don’t know where to turn or how to get help.

‘Dear Evan Hansen’ is not only about what happens when someone takes their own life but how someone with a social anxiety disorder, and how their need to be accepted, drives them to feel it is necessary to invent a friendship with the deceased.

The opening words to this song send shivers down my spine.

“Have you ever felt like nobody was there?

Have you ever felt forgotten in the middle of nowhere?

Have you ever felt like you could disappear?

Like you could fall, and no one would hear?”

How many times do we walk down the road, or in the playground, or at work and someone asks if you are ok and we answer, “I’m fine thanks”. I could be having the worst day ever, feeling lost and feeling like “nobody was there”. Or when do we stop and take the time to speak to the person who says to us “I’m fine thanks”. How often do we show our friends, acquaintances and work colleagues – those we love – how much we appreciate the little things that they do and how much we love them? Even if it is just a smile from someone you see every day whilst taking your dog for a walk.

How many of the people we meet daily are out there craving for someone to speak to them, to be shown the love and care that they so desperately want but don’t know how to ask for it.

I have often said that church can be a very lonely place. On more than one occasion, I have walked into a church and out again without speaking to anyone. Surrounded by people but feeling so overwhelmingly alone. From my own experience, I know the difference it can make to be welcomed into the church and to feel part of the church family.

A few weeks ago, a young mum with five children took her own life. The outpouring of love for this young woman was amazing. Her Facebook page was filled with positive messages about how she had helped and supported others in many ways throughout her life. How she was an amazing single parent and loved her children. That most of all she was loved by so many. But did she know that whilst she was here in her earthly body? She is now at rest for eternity and my hope for her is that she has found peace, with the loving Jesus that she welcomed and knew in her life.

We all can be loved, feel love, and love. Jesus told us to love one another and to share that love with each other. John 15 v17 ‘I am giving you these commands so that you love one another.’

These beautiful lyrics from the song express that it’s okay and that ‘you will be found.’ Of course in all good musicals, there is a happy ending. Even though Evan did a terrible thing, he gets everyone talking about anxiety and depression, and many other mental illnesses.

“Well, let that lonely feeling wash away

Maybe there’s a reason to believe you’ll be okay

‘Cause when you don’t feel strong enough to stand

You can reach, reach out your hand

And oh, someone will coming running

And I know, they’ll take you home

Even when the dark comes crashing through

When you need a friend to carry you

And when you’re broken on the ground

You will be found

So let the sun come streaming in

‘Cause you’ll reach up and you’ll rise again

Lift your head and look around

You will be found”

Let yourself be found. Being a Christian gives us hope that even in the darkest of days, Jesus puts loving arms around us and places us amongst others that love us and care for us. For some, it is hard to talk about how they feel for fear of being judged but talking really does help. All we can do is to love and to listen.

Most of all, share your love. Tell those around you that you care – that you love them and that Jesus loves them. Share your faith journey with those you meet. You never know how it might change someone’s life.

“The morning is breaking

And all is new, all is new

It’s filling up the empty

And suddenly I see that

All is new, all is new

You are not alone”

SAMARITANS call for free 116 123

Fidge writes:

I’m always disappointed by the lack of musical diversity when a Jubilee concert lineup is announced – we never (at least not that I can remember!) seem to have any of our country’s amazing folk singers included, and they do, after all, sing the songs of our land that have been passed down from generation to generation.

But the good news for all you folk fans out there is that Kate Rusby has a new CD out celebrating her 30 years in the music business. She has partnered with some of her favourite musicians from around the world who have inspired her during her career: Ladysmith Black Mambazo, KT Tunstall, and the Royal Northern Sinfonia to name a few.

I’ve been listening to one of the tracks – Walk the Road – which Kate sings with Beth Nielsen Chapman. It brought back memories of pilgrimage walks that myself and members of the Darlington District have been on. The chorus lyrics might have inspired us to keep going as we battled through some serious wind and rain on one of the days.

All the way through wind and rain

I”ll never deceive my heart again

Hand in hand, across the land

We”ll walk the road together

This week the Learning Network gathered at Cliff along with our colleagues from the Evangelism and Growth Team and District Missioners. It’s the first time we have met on site for over two years and of course, we have all been walking the road together through our varied experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sometimes though, the road is not an easy path for people to walk together – we live in quite a polarised world with not much space for conversation to explore the in-between. We live with war, conflict, disagreements, and arguments and long for a more peaceful and just world.

Think not of failing. Carry on.

And the road goes on forever

Let all the tears and strife be gone

And we”ll walk the road together

The Methodist Church seeks to be a justice-seeking and inclusive church, and this Friday sees the start of our Methodist Campaign #MyJusticeJourney. From Friday May 27th to Friday 3rd June, Methodist people will be sharing their stories and artefacts of personal “justice journeys” on social media – you can join the journey throughout the week by following the hashtag #MyJusticeJourney.

As we reflect on our own life journey, sometimes the road seems straight and the view ahead clear, but at other times our paths twist and turn with uncertainty. We walk the road by ourselves or with others. We say goodbye to some who journey in a different direction and maybe, as we follow God’s call, the road takes us in an unexpected direction.

Whatever path you find yourself on today and whoever is walking with you, the invitation to walk a spiritual path, is simply to keep going and to put one foot in front of the other.

Think not of stopping in the strife

When the road goes on forever

Let joy and happiness be rife

And we”ll walk the road together

Further details about Kate Rusby’s 30 CD can be found here https://katerusby.com/album/30-happy-returns/